I salute the protest led by our mothers and sisters: Mamata
Times of India | 17 August 2024
Kolkata: CM Mamata Banerjee on Friday supported the spontaneous protests that took over the city's streets on the eve of Independence Day.
"I salute the protests led by our mothers and sisters," Banerjee said after a silent march in central Kolkata to demand capital punishment for the brutal rape and murder of a young R G Kar hospital doctor last Friday.
The CM blamed BJP and the Left for the R G Kar vandalism that occurred after a massive protest gathering at Shyambazar on Wednesday night. "You went there to destroy evidence but vandalised the wrong floor. Your men have destroyed two floors and expensive machinery. Hospital infrastructure worth anything between Rs 50 crore and Rs 100 crore has been destroyed," she added.
"They have joined the protests not because they feel for the girl and her family but because they envy Lakshmir Bhandar and other welfare projects initiated by us," the CM said. "I saw it on the videos. There were CPM goons with DYFI flags and BJP goons with National Flags," she added, explaining why she was blaming the opposition. She also accused CPM and BJP of doctoring videos and sharing them over sponsored social media channels.
"I want to tell Ram-Bam (Left)-Shyam — the alliance between the BJP, the CPM and the Congress in Bengal — that you can abuse me but do not try to malign Bengal," she said, asking them not to test her patience.
The CM appealed to the BJP to let the CBI "work impartially". "Kolkata Police has already done 90% of the work. Let the CBI complete the rest of the investigation by this Sunday and ensure the culprit gets capital punishment," she said.
She also appealed to the agitating doctors to resume work. "Poor people, who cannot afford private healthcare and depend on govt hospitals, are suffering because of you. The state spends a huge amount of money to make you doctors. I respect the work you all do. Please understand how patients are suffering because of your non-cooperation," she said, adding that she supported their cause and she herself was part of many protests and rallies.
Banerjee then repeated her suspicion that there could be something more in the crime than what met the eye. "A nurse went and met her (the victim) after she went to the seminar hall to rest. Why did doctors and other staff at the hospital not look for an on-duty doctor who was absent from 3 am to 9 am? How is this possible?" she asked.