Congress leader Supriya Shrinate has sharply criticised the West Bengal government over the recent rape and murder of a female trainee doctor, questioning why the local administration allegedly attempted to cover up the crime.
Speaking out on Thursday, the Congress leader condemned the violence that erupted at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata after the incident and expressed anguish over the administration’s handling of the situation.
“The incident was extremely unfortunate. What happened to the woman doctor raises a critical question: Where is the safety for women, who constitute half the population? What is happening to women in this country? Why did the local administration try to cover up the crime? The violence we saw yesterday is unacceptable and it is not the answer to anything,” Shrinate, the chairperson of social media and digital platforms in Congress’ communication department, told ANI.
Congress General Secretary Deepa Dasmunshi also condemned the incident, noting that such cases have become distressingly frequent under Mamata Banerjee’s government.
“It is true that what happened at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital is very sad. This is not the first such incident in Bengal since Mamata Banerjee came to power. From Park Street to numerous other cases, this is deeply shocking. The presence of 150 grams of semen indicates a gang rape, not just a case involving one or two men. The (state) government is silent, but it should be open to the public,” she said.
Deepa Dasmunshi criticized the response of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has suggested a CBI investigation. “What will the CBI do by going there after all the evidence is erased? The truth must be revealed now. Yesterday, TMC goons went in. TMC workers, who have accumulated so much wealth, act as if everything is their property, engaging in arbitrary behaviour. This ‘dadagiri’ will not be tolerated. They must face the truth. The Mahila Congress is protesting vigorously,” she added.
She demanded that the perpetrators be brought to justice and strict punishment be enforced. “Mamata ji needs to understand that our criticism is not personal but directed at her administration and governance. Our concerns are issue-based, not against her personally,” she said.
On Wednesday night, a mob entered the RG Kar hospital campus, vandalising protest sites and attacking vehicles and public property, which led security officials to disperse the crowd.
On August 9, a post-graduate trainee doctor was found dead in a seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The victim’s family has alleged she was raped and murdered, sparking nationwide protests by doctors and medical communities.
