West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her sorrow over the passing of Poonam Jha Azad, wife of Trinamool MP and former cricketer Kirti Azad. Azad, a member of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning team, was recently elected to Parliament from the Bardhaman-Durgapur constituency, defeating a BJP heavyweight in the process.
In her statement, Banerjee acknowledged knowing Poonam for a long time and highlighted her prolonged illness. She expressed her condolences to Azad and his family. While many on social media echoed Banerjee’s sentiment, others seized the opportunity to criticize the government’s response to the recent rape-murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata.
Several users questioned the sincerity of Banerjee’s condolences, highlighting the lack of attention paid to the doctor’s case and the perceived negligence towards women’s safety. Others expressed skepticism about Banerjee’s empathy, citing the lack of government action in previous cases of violence. The incident has once again brought to light the issue of women’s safety in West Bengal and the government’s perceived inaction in addressing the problem.
