'It's CM Mamata Banerjee who is making false accusations ... ': RG Kar victim doctor’s family stick to 'money offer' allegations
Times of India | 10 September 2024
KOLKATA: Reacting to CM Mamata Banerjee’s claim that “the family was never offered money and such allegations are baseless”, the family of the raped and murdered PGT doctor on Monday stuck to their claim that a police officer as well as the CM had offered them money. The family declined to comment on the SC proceedings.
“The CM said we were lying and asked us to furnish proof.Should we have recorded a video when we were offered money? It is the CM who is making a false accusation. She had said we would receive some money and suggested we create something in memory of my daughter. I replied that I would come and collect it from her office once my daughter receives justice,” the victim’s mother said, adding that DC (North) had offered money after her daughter’s body had reached their Sodepur home on the evening of Aug 9.
Regarding the CM’s call for return to festivities, the mother said: “I find it inhumane because I am the mother. I have lost my child.” She also felt the CM was trying to strangle the movement for justice. “Just as evidence was destroyed, she (the CM) is trying to throttle the voice of protesters,” she said.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had on Monday countered the allegations that money had been offered to the family of the RG Kar rape-and-murder victim.
'Prove that I mentioned money'
“Show me proof where I mentioned that I was offering money. These are just lies, slander, misinformation, and a conspiracy,” she said.
“Murli (additional police commissioner) went to give the progress report on the investigations on Aug 11. I went later (on Aug 12). I informed her parents in detail. I also took the CP (Vineet Goyal) along with me. I asked the CP to record all the complaints. Some people are spreading rumors that I talked about money. I did not. Let them show proof where I mentioned money... . Journalists were present that day,” the CM said.
She said, “The day before I went to meet the parents, the Resident Doctors’ Forum had issued an official statement with their demands. Point number 3 stated about adequate compensation for the family of the victim. The Supreme Court has directed us to cooperate in such cases. I told the parents, on record, stating that money cannot replace a life. I told them that we are as heartbroken as they are. Still, if you ever feel like doing something good in your daughter’s memory, let us know. Our govt is there to support you. That’s all. I know what to say and when... . Do the rumourmongers want justice or just want to drag the case in the name of justice?”
Regarding the demand for resignation of the Kolkata Police commissioner, the CM said Goyal had come to her a week ago expressing his desire to resign. “But the festival (Durga Puja) is approaching. The person who is experienced and is well aware of law and order must be at the helm during the festival. Show some patience for a few days. Do you decide on everyone who needs to be shifted?” the chief minister said.
On the demolition and renovation of the area next to the seminar room at RG Kar, she said: “It is being said that it was demolished to destroy evidence. Why would we tamper with evidence? To save whom? No one is my friend, no one is my enemy.”
The CM said, “Many are asking why a restroom was being built there! If there was a restroom there, the girl wouldn’t have had to go to that seminar room... . We planned to build a rest area and an adjacent toilet. But the work was not allowed to proceed.”
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)