West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly condemned the recent vandalism at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, which occurred during protests against the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor. In a press conference held after meeting the Governor, Banerjee pointed fingers at "outsiders," specifically accusing workers from the BJP and CPI(M) of orchestrating the violence. According to Banerjee, these political party members, whom she referred to as 'Baam' (Left) and 'Ram' (BJP), were responsible for inciting chaos and disrupting the peaceful protests.
Banerjee emphasized that students had no involvement in the violence, asserting that the entire episode was a politically motivated act designed to undermine her government. She expressed her deep disappointment and frustration, noting that the police showed restraint by not using excessive force against the protesters, even when one officer-in-charge went missing for an hour and was later found injured.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the stark contrast between the current situation and her party's past protests, where despite engaging in significant agitation ('aandolan'), they had never resorted to such destructive actions, especially in sensitive locations like hospitals. Banerjee lamented the desecration of the hospital environment, where the emergency ward was vandalized, and police vehicles were damaged.Â
The violence at RG Kar hospital erupted shortly after the 'Reclaim the Night' protest began, a movement that saw thousands of women across West Bengal taking to the streets to demand justice for the slain doctor. While the majority of these protests were peaceful, the situation outside RG Kar Medical College quickly escalated as a mob of around 40-50 people forcefully entered the hospital premises, causing widespread destruction. The police caught off guard, were compelled to fire tear gas and resort to lathi charges in an attempt to disperse the unruly crowd.
In response to these events, Banerjee announced her intention to lead a rally on August 16, which will serve as a public call for the death penalty for those involved in the heinous crime. She framed this rally as part of her ongoing efforts to maintain law and order in the state while ensuring that justice is served for the victim. Banerjee's remarks underscore her concern about the growing politicization of such tragic incidents and her determination to protect the integrity of her administration amidst rising tensions.
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