Politics

Kolkata Doctor’s Mother Rejects Mamata Banerjee’s ‘Return to Festivities’ Call Amid Ongoing Protests

As protests continued unabated in the city over the ghoulish rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged the people to focus on the forthcoming Puja.

Speaking at an administrative review meeting at the state secretariat, Nabanna, Banerjee said that Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal had offered to resign several times in the past one week, but was persuaded to continue in view of the upcoming Durga Puja festival.

Appealing for calm over the protests that have left the state in turmoil for over a month, Banerjee said, “If you stay on the roads every night, it affects the elderly with noise pollution.

We haven’t enforced state pollution control board norms yet.” She asked the people to return to festivities and let the CBI complete their probe as soon as possible.

Victim’s Family Slams Mamata Banerjee

The victim’s family slammed the Chief Minister for her remarks. “How can we enjoy when our daughter is gone? Will she say this if it happens to her own family?” the family members said, tearfully. “We celebrated Durga Puja with our daughter and now never will we celebrate any festival. Her remarks are insensitive.”

The mother of the deceased junior doctor, overcome with grief, said, “It feels inhuman to ask people to celebrate during this time. Durga Puja was once celebrated in our home by our daughter, but now our lives are consumed by darkness.”

BJP Criticizes Mamata’s Appeal

While a string of sharp rebuttals came from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, Mamata Banerjee’s plea to shift focus to Durga Puja fell flat. In a post on X, Amit Malviya, head of the BJP’s IT cell, criticized Banerjee: “While West Bengal mourns the tragic loss of a junior doctor and protests for justice, an insensitive Mamata Banerjee asks people to celebrate. Celebrate what? The mishandled investigation into this heinous crime?”

Malviya also said that some Durga Puja pandals had rejected monetary assistance from the government and were not willing to declare their themes under pressure from the West Bengal Police.

Victim’s Family Rebuts Mamata’s Claim Over Financial Help

Hours after Banerjee had denied charges of trying to bribe the victim’s family, the victim’s mother accused the Chief Minister of trying to muzzle the justice movement. “Mamata Banerjee is trying to stifle the protest, just as my daughter was strangled. Evidence was destroyed, but we will fight until justice is served,” the mother said.

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She then dismissed Banerjee’s denial: “She is lying. We were offered money but I refused. I told her I would only accept it the day my daughter gets justice.”