Kolkata Rape Case: West Bengal’s Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, will spearhead a statewide protest this weekend to demand the death penalty for rapists responsible for the cruel rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The ruling party of Trinamool Congress is raising the pitch for justice, pressing both for legal reforms and stricter punishment in Kolkata rape Case.
A Zero Tolerance Stand on Kolkata Rape-Murder Case
The protest is starting from this Saturday, and such a two-day agitation is the zero-tolerance attitude of TMC over the issue. Banerjee ordered the party members to stage protests at all blocks in the state but with special focus on Sunday to women-led protests. Such huge mobilization depicts the seriousness of the situation and the commitment of TMC to get justice for the victim.
This heinous crime has triggered a huge public outcry and a noholds-barred political fight in West Bengal. What had engaged the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party was the condemnation of the state government over the handling of the case, conducting a series of protests of its own. The BJP accuses Banerjee of trying to deflect the responsibility for the crime, and exhibits a dictatorial attitude toward the protesting students.
Calls for Justice and Centralized Protection for Healthcare Professionals
The Indian Medical Association joins the chorus of the rising outcry for justice, as it has decided to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. IMA official Dr. Suvrankar Datta says the association is asking for justice for their colleague. It also demands a centralized protection act for healthcare professionals to avoid such tragedies in the future.
It has also caught the attention of the Centre, which asked Mamata Banerjee to expedite the setting up of fast-track courts for trying rape and POCSO cases. Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi sought fast and effective justice in such cases while saying that the existing laws were enough if implemented effectively.
Notice Issued to Kolkata Police Over Alleged Excessive Force on Protesters
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission has intervened on the issue. It has issued a notice to Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, over the alleged use of excessive force on the protesters demonstrating for justice. The NHRC asked for a detailed report on police action within two weeks.
The investigating agency, Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI, is looking into a 40-minute gap between the finding of the body of the trainee doctor and informing the police about it. Suspicions are that the hospital authorities tried to cover up the crime. If proved, the allegation may lead to serious consequences.
Protests mounted and a political blame game raged on, the demand for justice in this heinous crime continued to rise higher with every passing day, reflecting greater social outcry against violence and the need for much more effective legal frameworks in India that would guarantee protection for women.