The protests over the rape-murder of a trainee doctor at a Kolkata medical college has pushed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee into a corner. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress are facing one of the worst ever protests. The fiery Trinamool leader has painted herself into a corner with mis-steps in the Kolkata rape-murder case and explosive revelations in the case have both shocked the country and made people take to the streets.
From doctors, paramedics to opposition parties and ordinary citizens, the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital horror has everyone’s ire directed at Mamata Banerjee and her party. The worst news for Mamata, who has harped on Ma, Mati and Manush, is the anger of one of her key constituents — women.
The mishandling of the case has fuelled public outrage across India, with people criticising the state government’s response. Thousands of people from all walks of life took to the streets for a midnight vigil demanding justice for the victim in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Candle marches were taken out in cities, including in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad. A sea of women protesters took to Kolkata’s streets.
West Bengal Govt and Police have botched up the investigation
The post-mortem suggested that the rape and murder might have involved more than one person. Vaginal swab analysis revealed the quantity of fluid was not that of one single person. It suggested she had been gang-raped.
The negligence and lack of transparency displayed by the Kolkata Police in handling the case have left Mamata Banerjee facing widespread public outrage.
Due to botched up investigation of West Bengal Police and Govt, it has been understood that may not reach a conclusion, with the accused potentially walking free, counsel who appeared on behalf of one of the petitioners said in the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday while arguing for a transfer of the case to the CBI.
Firoz Eduljee, the counsel, told the division bench of Calcutta High Court on Tuesday, “Be rest assured, milord, ten years from now – because I have argued Kamduni in which the acquittals took place – this case will go just the Kamduni way. The accused will be acquitted. I will show it to your lordship how he will be acquitted.”
Edulji’s comments came after the chief justice questioned the state’s senior standing counsel, Amitosh Banerjee, about the state of the case. “There is an apprehension that if time lost there is chances of something getting derailed. How do you ensure that doesn’t happen?”
Calcutta High Court thrashed Mamata Govt
On Friday, the Calcutta High Court described the mob violence at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital as a complete failure of state machinery in West Bengal. The court ordered the police and hospital authorities to submit affidavits detailing the incident.
Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, heading a division bench, expressed disbelief that police intelligence lacked information about the assembly of 7,000 people at the hospital in the early hours of Thursday, as reported by the state’s lawyer.
“This is an absolute failure of state machinery. There was a police force present (at the spot). They couldn’t protect their own men? Sorry state of affairs. How will these doctors work fearlessly?” the Chief Justice said while slamming the West Bengal government.
PM slammed Mamata Govt
The pressure on Mamata Banerjee intensified after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, indirectly referenced the trainee doctor’s rape and murder at RG Kar Medical College, calling for the strictest punishment for those who commit such “monstrous deeds.”
“I would like to express my pain once again, from the Red Fort today… Speedy investigation of crimes against women, those executing these monstrous deeds need to be awarded strict punishment at the earliest – this is important to instil confidence in society,” as PM Modi said. It was clear that he referred to the grisly crime in Kolkata.
“It is the need of the hour, that extensive discussion on those receiving punishment be held so that those committing this sin understand that this leads to hanging. I think it is very important to instil this fear,” he added.
West Bengal Governor hits out at Mamata
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Friday hit out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying “she was behaving like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde” amid public anger over the horrific rape and murder of a trainee doctor in a government-run hospital in Kolkata.
Speaking exclusively to India Today TV, the Governor also alleged complete police failure, citing ‘tardy’ investigation.
Rahul Gandhi slammed Mamata
As protests mounted, Rahul Gandhi slammed the conduct of the RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata and local authorities over the incident, alleging there was an “attempt to save the accused”. Trinamool Congress is a constituent of the INDIA bloc, which has Rahul’s Congress as the biggest party.
Mamata Tried to counter attack
On Wednesday (August 14), Mamata Banerjee slammed political parties for “indulging in cheap politics” over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor, a case for which she has faced heavy criticism over its handling.
