- RG Kar News Today: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's request to people to return to festivities amid protests over the rape and murder of a doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has drawn sharp criticism from the victim's mother who said the statement was "insensitive".
"We used to celebrate Durga Puja with our daughter, but we will never celebrate Durga Puja or any other festival for years to come. Her remarks are insensitive...How can I tell people to celebrate the festival during this time?" she asked.
The 31-year-old doctor's mother said, "It seems inhuman to me because I am the mother of a girl. I have lost a child, so I feel inhuman. If people from all over the country want to return for the (Durga Puja) festival, they can."
Accusing Mamata of attempting to suppress the protests demanding justice for her daughter, she asked if the Chief Minister would have made the same request if the incident happened in her family.
After Mamata Banerjee refuted claims that she offered money to the victim's family, the mother said, "She is lying". "We were offered money by her. Why would I lie in the name of my daughter who would never return? But I told her I would go to your office and take that money the day my daughter gets justice," the victim’s mother said.
What Mamata Said
CM Mamata Banerjee had said that the protests were causing disruptions and called for calm and a return to normal life. "If you stay on the roads every night, it affects the elderly people’s sleep due to noise pollution. We haven’t acted on state pollution control board norms," she said at an administrative review meeting at the state secretariat ‘Nabanna'.
Mamata also said that Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal had offered to resign several times over the rape and murder case but he was persuaded to stay due to Durga Puja.
BJP Attacks Mamata
Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari criticised Mamata Banerjee over her "return to festivities" call and asked, "Do you consider the public your puppets?
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya in a post on X said, "While crores of residents of West Bengal are mourning and have hit the streets, seeking justice and demanding a fair probe in the heinous rape and murder of Bengal’s proud daughter, an insensitive Mamata Banerjee, audaciously asks the people to stop these protests and celebrate instead. Celebrate what?"