Kolkata: As former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly along with his wife and daughter took part in a candlelight protest Wednesday against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor, he joined the growing list of public figures who have distanced themselves from the Trinamool Congress government and, more importantly, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Much before he took a definitive stand, Sourav was criticised heavily by social media users for his statement that the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder was a “stray” incident. A modern day icon for Bengalis, Sourav was made West Bengal brand ambassador by none other than Mamata herself in 2023.
What makes it all the more precarious for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo is dissenting voices have emerged from within her party as well. Rajya Sabha MPs Jawhar Sircar and Sukhendu Sekhar Ray have come out on ‘X’, although both have either deleted or modified their initial posts.
Launched into politics by Mamata in 2021, Sircar had questioned the state government over this incident. “Good to know the Government has finally set up SIT enquiry against financial irregularities and corruption charges in RG Kar hospital- during tenure of ex-principal Dr. Sandip Ghosh. This should have been done much earlier. Suspend him immediately (sic)!” he posted on ‘X’.
Hours later, the post was modified. His Rajya Sabha colleague, Ray, deleted his social media posts questioning the TMC government seemingly after he received summons to appear at the Kolkata Police headquarters.
“CBI must act fairly. Custodial interrogation of ex-Principal and Police Commissioner is a must to know who and why floated suicide story. Why wall of hall demolished, who patronised Roy to be so powerful. Why sniffer dog used after 3 days. Hundreds of such questions. Make them speak (sic),” read one of his posts that was taken down.
Another deleted post questioned who was attempting to shield the “beasts”.
Quoting a song of Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore on being fearless, Ray Sunday moved the Calcutta High Court seeking legal protection. The same day, he called for the custodial interrogation of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, who was tasked to complete the probe before it was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh countered his senior colleague’s demand.
“I also demand justice in RG Kar case but strongly oppose this demand regarding CP. After he got information, he has tried his best. Personally CP was doing his job and investigation was in a positive focus. This kind of post is unfortunate and that too from my senior leader (sic),” Ghosh posted on ‘X’.
Earlier, Ray did not mince his words while demanding that “whosoever is responsible for the crime must be hanged.” He went on to explain that he was joining the protesters, especially because he has “a daughter and little granddaughter like millions of Bengali families.”
But this outrage isn’t just restricted to West Bengal or Kolkata. Actor Swara Bhaskar, who in March 2023 received a letter from the TMC chief congratulating her on her wedding, also questioned why the perpetrators were being shielded.
“Each detail that emerges from the #kolkatahorror is more & more devastating! I can’t understand why like #Hathras case the police (& hospital authorities) in this case too tried to convince the parents to accept it’s a suicide and cremate the body of the girl hurriedly? Why do institutional apparatus automatically try and protect perpetrators in the way they function??? Women are worthless in our country. The crime and the reactions to it prove this every single time (sic),” Bhaskar posted on ‘X’.
Back in 2021, Mamata had asked actor Swara: “Why don’t you join politics?” During a meet and greet event in Mumbai, Swara had praised the TMC supremo saying that she was a “tough and strong woman”.
As the CBI scrambles to join the pieces of the gruesome rape and murder of the 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar, Mamata is facing widespread criticism as the family of the victim awaits justice and citizens voice concern over law and order.
In Kolkata, a Derby football match was cancelled Sunday due to “security concerns”, after fans of archrivals East Bengal and Mohun Bagan came together—a never seen before episode—along with their counterparts from Mohammedan Sporting to demand justice for the 31-year-old trainee doctor .
Similarly, actors, filmmakers and technicians from the Bengali film industry rallied in Kolkata Sunday evening to seek justice.
Actors seen sharing the stage with the West Bengal chief minister at film events hosted by her government, too, are raising their voices.
“I also stand firmly by the demand for justice. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the truth comes to light and that those responsible are held accountable,” actor and Kolkata International Film Festival co-chairperson Prosenjit Chatterjee said.
Political analyst Udayan Bandopadhyay stressed on looking beyond the anger and dissent that the tragedy has generated, so far.
“The gruesome incident has made many of us speechless. We must raise our voice against it in order to keep our vigilant eyes not only on the process of investigation but also on the impact of the movement. The impact should not be calculated in terms of partisan gains or losses,” Bandopadhyay told ThePrint.
“We must look forward to having a safer society. Politics should be understood in a larger perspective and the protest should not be painted in the colour of celebration,” he asserted.
Also Read: Mamata govt’s new programme to ensure women’s safety includes SOS app, request to ‘avoid night duty’
RG Kar protests gain pan-India support
The critical voices are no longer restricted to West Bengal or the medical community. Actors, sportspersons and eminent personalities are condemning the incident. Bollywood actors like Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kriti Sanon, Alia Bhatt, Anushka Sharma, Hrithik Roshan, Ayushmann Khurana, Richa Chadha have joined the public outcry on social media.
“Another brutal rape. Another day of realisation that women are not safe, anywhere. Another horrific atrocity to remind us that it’s been over a decade since the Nirbhaya tragedy, but still nothing much has changed,” wrote Alia.
Referring to the Nirbhaya case, Kareena posted, “12 years later, the same story, the same protest. But we are still waiting for change.”
Ayushmann recited a thought-provoking poem on Instagram to invoke the need for focusing on women safety in the country.
A day after Independence Day, Mamata had led a rally with her MPs and MLAs to seek justice for the victim and had set a deadline for the CBI to complete the probe.
Actor and TMC MP Deepak Adhikari, popularly known as Dev, took to ‘X’ and announced he had postponed the release of his film’s teaser on 14 August . “At this time our focus should be on seeking justice for the victim. We urge the guilty to be brought to justice. Our hearts go out to the Victim’s family and we stand with them in their pursuit of justice,” he wrote.
On Tuesday, actor Mimi Chakraborty, a former TMC MP, came out on ‘X‘ saying how she was facing rape threats and lewd messages following her posts concerning the protests.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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