West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has taken swift action following an open letter from former cricketer and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha member Harbhajan Singh, who expressed deep anguish over the delay in justice for the victim in the recent Kolkata doctor rape case. The Governor has called for an emergency meeting of representatives from various societies in the state to apprise them of the action taken in the case. He will also gather opinions on the rape-murder case that occurred at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9th.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Bengal Governor wrote, “HG’s swift action on the letter from Shri Harbhajan Singh expressing his anguish over the tragic incident at R.G. Kar Medical College. HG has called an emergency meeting of a cross-section of Bengal society to apprise them of the action taken in the matter and to take stock of their opinions in this regard.” “HG will be addressing Shri Harbhajan Singh on the action taken and proposed to be taken. HG expressed his solidarity with the civil society all over India who have expressed their deep concern over the ghastly incident and the apparent inaction of the government in the matter,” he added.
Harbhajan Singh’s heartfelt plea to the West Bengal government highlighted the urgency of the situation. “With deep anguish over the delay in justice for the Kolkata rape and murder victim, an incident that has shaken the conscience of all of us, I have penned a heartfelt plea to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal, Ms. @MamataOfficial Ji, and Hon’ble @BengalGovernor, urging them to act swiftly and decisively,” Singh said. He further emphasized, “The safety and dignity of women are non-negotiable. The perpetrators of this heinous crime must face the full weight of the law, and the punishment must be exemplary. Only then can we begin to restore faith in our system and ensure that such a tragedy never occurs again, creating a society where every woman feels safe and protected.”
The incident, which occurred on August 9th, involved the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor while on duty at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. This sparked nationwide strikes by the medical community. Following a mob vandalizing the protest site on August 14th, Kolkata police imposed Section 163 of the BNSS around the hospital for seven days from August 18th to maintain order. The Governor’s swift action in response to Harbhajan Singh’s plea reflects the seriousness of the situation and the need for accountability and justice in this heinous crime.
