Kolkata doctor murder: BJP targets Mamata Banerjee, criticises "silence" of INDIA bloc leaders

Aug 16, 2024

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 16 : Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sudhanshu Trivedi has targeted West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee amid a political uproar over the death of a trainee-doctor in Kolkata.
During a press conference in Lucknow on Friday, Trivedi accused the India Alliance and its leaders, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi of remaining silent on the issue. The BJP MP alleged that the attitude of Trinamool Congress and the INDIA bloc regarding the case is "dangerous."
"It would have taken Mamata Banerjee only 70 seconds to hand over the case to the CBI. And she was asking for 7 days to do that. This shows her frustration," the BJP leader said.
Drawing parallels with past incidents in West Bengal, including the Sandeshkhali violence and the Shahjahan Sheikh case, Sudhashu Trivedi said that "these kinds of incidents are not a new thing in Bengal."
Trivedi also hit out at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav regarding the rape case in Ayodhya where, he alleged, investigations were obstructed and victims threatened and also raised concerns in a similar case in Kannauj, which is Yadav's constituency. The BJP leader alleged that the Samajwadi Party tried to "suppress" the incident.
"Why are INDI alliance leaders, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi silent on these incidents? Are such anarchists and rapists part of your Mohabbat ki Dukaan?" Trivedi asked.
He also pointed out Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary's criticism of the Mamata government regarding the doctor murder case and further criticised Rahul Gandhi for allying with TMC. Trivedi also condemned the violent protests against a High Court-ordered CBI inquiry, which he claimed were used to obscure evidence of the crime.
He further criticized the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh for similar behaviour, citing the Ayodhya rape case and Kannauj incidents where, he alleged, investigations were obstructed and victims threatened.
Trivedi accused the India Alliance and its leaders, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, of remaining silent on these issues. He questioned whether they were complicit in these alleged cover-ups, referring to the "Mohabbat Ki Dukaan" (Shop of Love) as a facade for supporting criminals.
A post-graduate trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. The victim's family has alleged rape and murder. The CBI has taken over the case and an investigation into the matter is underway. The opposition BJP has accused the ruling TMC of a "cover-up" in the matter.
The case has sparked widespread protests with medical and non-medical professionals staging demonstrations across the country demanding safety and security for doctors, and women in general.