Jawhar Sircar, who recently resigned from his position as a Rajya Sabha MP for the Trinamool Congress, was approached by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in a bid to persuade him to reconsider his decision to step down from both his parliamentary role and politics. This outreach came as Banerjee sought to address the growing dissent within the party regarding its handling of recent critical issues.
Sircar’s resignation was prompted by his deep dissatisfaction with the Mamata Banerjee-led government's response to the horrific rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Sircar also cited systemic corruption within the party as a significant reason for his decision to resign. His departure is a blow to the party, which is grappling with increasing scrutiny and internal unrest.
Sircar plans to formally submit his resignation letter to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat in Delhi on September 11. In his resignation letter, Sircar expressed his profound concerns about what he described as a "disease of corruption" pervading West Bengal's political landscape. He warned that if the current course of action did not change, there was a serious risk that "communal parties" might gain a stronger foothold in the state, potentially altering its political dynamics.
In an exclusive interview with India Today TV, Sircar emphasized that the ongoing protests against the trainee doctor's death should not be viewed merely as a political ploy. He stressed that the movement was fueled by genuine public outrage and was not driven by political agendas, despite attempts by various political factions to exploit the situation for their benefit.
In his letter to Mamata Banerjee, Sircar criticized what he perceived as the "unchecked overbearing attitude of the favored few" within the Trinamool Congress and expressed disappointment over the party's failure to take decisive action against corrupt officials. He lamented the leadership's inability to address these issues effectively, which he believed contributed to the current crisis.
The resignation follows a wave of protests across West Bengal and other regions of India, ignited by the shocking discovery of the trainee doctor's semi-naked body on August 9. The investigation into the crime, spearheaded by the CBI, led to the arrest of Sanjoy Roy, a civil volunteer with the Kolkata Police, who is now facing charges related to the case.
The handling of the incident has sparked intense criticism within the Trinamool Congress. Prominent party figures, including Santanu Sen, have faced disciplinary action for publicly criticizing the state's response, while veteran leader Sukhendu Sekhar Ray has questioned the efficacy of the police investigation. The internal strife within the party reflects broader concerns about governance and accountability in West Bengal.
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