Kolkata: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced a series of protests across West Bengal from August 28 to September 4 in response to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
Two weeks have passed since the tragic incident, and the investigation is still ongoing. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar, who is also a Union minister, has criticized the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) for its handling of the case.
Protest Schedule and Demands
Majumdar outlined the protest plan, starting with a sit-in at the Esplanade area in Kolkata on August 28. The party's women's wing will lock the gates of the state women's commission office, accusing it of inaction.
On August 29, BJP activists will demonstrate outside district magistrate offices across the state at noon. Protests will continue outside administrative offices in every block on September 2. The final protest on September 4 will involve a 'chakka jam' where traffic will be halted for one hour across West Bengal.
Majumdar has called for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s resignation, alleging her failure to address women's safety issues. He also claimed that the ongoing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College indicates a connection between the state and corrupt practices within the hospital.
TMC’s Response
In response, TMC state spokesperson Joy Prakash Majumdar accused the BJP of attempting to divert attention from the ongoing CBI investigation. He asserted that the TMC government and Chief Minister Banerjee have shown solidarity with the victim’s family and maintain a zero-tolerance stance on sexual violence.
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh criticized the BJP for focusing on alleged financial irregularities rather than the core issue of women's safety. Ghosh emphasized that the primary concern for citizens is ensuring justice for the victim, and he called for a speedy resolution of the case by the CBI.
The Case Details
The victim, known as Abhaya, was brutally assaulted and killed in a seminar room at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital after a grueling 36-hour shift. The main suspect, Sanjoy Roy, is in police custody for 14 days. The Supreme Court of India has taken notice of the case, and the CBI is investigating both the murder and financial irregularities at the hospital.
The former principal of RG Kar, Sandip Ghosh, along with his associates, is under interrogation. The accused, including Ghosh, are undergoing polygraph tests following court approval.
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