West Bengal Chief Minister Criticizes Protesters, Blames Them for Public Disruptions
Kolkata, 10th September 2024: Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief, has a long history of leading protests, from her early days in Singur to becoming West Bengal’s Chief Minister. However, she now finds herself facing massive public protests, unlike anything seen in recent times. In response, Banerjee has turned against the protesters, attempting to shift the blame and warn protesting doctors, even as her party accuses them of contributing to deaths in state hospitals.
The protests erupted over a month ago following the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. These demonstrations, involving a wide range of participants from doctors to social media influencers, have been ongoing and widespread.
As both Home and Health Minister, Banerjee initially took to the streets demanding a swift CBI investigation into the case. Despite her efforts, the protests persisted. Now, Banerjee has begun criticizing the protesters for causing public inconvenience. Her party, the TMC, has even started attributing hospital deaths to the ongoing protests.
On Monday, Banerjee urged the protesters to return to work and join the Durga Puja celebrations. She emphasized that the matter is now in the CBI’s hands and invited dialogue, though her tone suggested a possible threat of police action. Banerjee also expressed relief that the Kolkata police had not yet acted against the protesters, contrasting this with other states where such actions might be more common.
Banerjee’s stance appears to be an attempt to defuse the situation by challenging the protesters and blaming them for disrupting public life. Meanwhile, the TMC has released videos alleging that deaths have occurred due to the doctors’ strike and criticized the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital for its handling of a recent death.
Despite her attempts to address the situation, the protests, which began in response to the RG Kar incident, have continued to grow, fueled by broader grievances against the TMC government. This widespread discontent is further highlighted by the resignation of Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar, who cited dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the case.
With the protests showing no signs of abating, Banerjee and the TMC are now attempting to portray the protesters and agitating doctors as the culprits. This strategy, however, might backfire in a climate where public sentiment is increasingly critical of the TMC and its leadership.
