Amid the mounting attacks on the Trinamool Congress-led government in West Bengal over the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor at a Kolkata hospital, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit back at the opposition, accusing them of trying to grab power in the state by organising "Bangladesh-like protests". This came after the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders demanded her resignation over the horrifying incident, which is still under investigation.
"CPI (M), BJP trying to organise Bangladesh-like protests to capture power in Bengal. A coordinated approach has been executed by them with support from the Centre, to defame Bengal and exploit the situation. They are taking cues from student unrest in Bangladesh (where the Awami League was ousted), and are attempting to capture power similarly. But they won't succeed," news agency PTI quoted her as saying.
Bangladesh witnessed a massive uproar after the student-led protests over the quota system turned into an uprising against the government, which ultimately led to former PM Sheikh Hasina's ouster.
Mamata Banerjee also alleged that Bengal was being subjected to a "malicious campaign", despite taking "all actions" in the RG Kar doctor's rape-murder case.
Urging the agitating doctors who have been demanding justice for the victim to get back to work, the Bengal CM assured that she will "extend all support to CBI in the matter and wants it to be solved quickly."
Slamming BJP for pointing fingers at her for 'destroying evidence" and "delaying probe" in the matter, Banerjee said: "Abuse me as much as you want... there are people running a smear campaign on social media. But do not abuse 'Bangla Maa...'" and continued, invoking the party's 'Maa, Mati, Manush' war-cry."
The TMC supremo then went on to share how she got to know about the incident and recalled speaking to the victim's parents, assuring them justice for their daughter's death.
Mamata Banerjee said that she was returning from Jhargram when the incident took place.
"The moment it came to my notice I called the Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and enquired about the incident. They informed that they were present in the hospital and her parents were also there. I spoke with her parents and assured them that Police will investigate the case and the criminals would be hanged to death. I also told them, I would soon visit their place and I visited them on Monday, two days after the incident," she said.
"I was updated minute-to-minute by the Police personnel about the sample collection, her cremation and other events. CCTV footage of 1 month was thoroughly searched and within 12 hours, the criminal was arrested after interrogation," she added.
Noting that the Kolkata Police had completed 90 per cent of the probe, the TMC supremo also demanded that the CBI solve the case by Sunday and called for the culprits to be hanged.
"I will personally take to the streets on Friday, and we demand that the CBI ensures that the case is solved by Sunday. Kolkata Police has already completed 90 per cent of the probe, and the culprits must be hanged," she asserted.
"We have no problem with the CBI taking over the case, as we want it solved as soon as possible, " Banerjee said during a party programme in Behala.
Earlier today, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi slammed the conduct of the RG Kar Hospital and local authorities, adding that the "attempt to save the accused, instead of providing justice to the victim raises serious questions on the hospital and local administration."
Notably, Congress and TMC are both allies and part of the opposition's INDIA bloc. However, the former contested solo in the Lok Sabha polls 2024.
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Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose asked the vice-chancellors of the state universities to increase the security measures for female students and women staff as well as non-teaching staff members.
Bose also condemned the Kolkata Police's inability in handling the case in an appropriate and impartial manner. He also expressed anger over the alleged collusion of the police in campus-related crime cases particularly.
The Bengal Governor discussed the matter with several delegations and is likely to discuss it with the protestors on Thursday.
He emphasised that crime against humanity should be dealt with accordingly and expressed disappointment over the police's failure to curb rising crime cases in Bengal.
The incident has sparked massive outrage since it occured on Thursday last week, with medical professionals and associations refusing to call off strikes despite the case being handed over by the Calcutta High Court to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
(With inputs from Manogya Loiwal)