Amidst widespread protests over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor in West Bengal, Asha Devi, the mother of Nirbhaya, the victim of the 2012 Delhi gang rape case, has demanded the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Devi believes that Banerjee has “failed” to effectively handle the situation.
She claims that instead of focusing her power on bringing the perpetrators to justice, the Chief Minister is attempting to deflect public attention by organizing protests. The 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly attacked and murdered while on duty at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9th. Students from her college and doctors across India have staged protests demanding justice for the victim.
Criticizing Banerjee, Asha Devi stated, “Instead of using her authority to take action against the culprits, Mamata Banerjee is trying to mislead the public.” She added, “Mamata Banerjee is protesting to divert people’s attention from this issue. She herself is a woman. She should have taken strict action against the culprits while discharging her responsibility as the head of the state. She should resign because she has failed to handle the situation.”
On Friday, Banerjee led a protest rally in Kolkata, calling for justice for the woman doctor and demanding that the culprits be hanged. Asha Devi believes that until both central and state governments prioritize swift punishment for rapists, such brutal acts will continue to occur across the country. She stated, “When girls are not safe in Kolkata’s medical college and such barbarity is committed against them, then one can understand the state of women’s safety in the country.”
One individual was arrested by the West Bengal Police in connection with the crime a day after the trainee doctor was allegedly raped and killed. Subsequently, the Calcutta High Court, citing lapses in the police investigation, transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
