West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday denied claims that she offered money to the parents of the Kolkata doctor who was raped and murdered on August 9 in a state-run hospital. Banerjee also urged protesting citizens including doctors to stop their marches demanding justice and 'return to festivities' as Durga Puja is supposed to take place in the next month.
People in Bengal across social media have highly criticised Banerjee for trivialising the issue and some have alleged that she is trying to 'cover up' the crime and preventing justice for the victim.
Speaking at an administrative review meeting at the state secretariat 'Nabanna', Banerjee alleged that the Centre was conspiring over public outcry involving the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at a state-run hospital last month. She also claimed that some Left parties were involved in it.
The body of a woman doctor was recovered from the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. The postgraduate trainee was allegedly raped and murdered while on duty at the health facility, which triggered a nationwide protest.
Mamata Banerjee On Allegation Of Offering Money To Victim's Family
Banerjee claimed she had never offered money to the deceased doctor's parents, dismissing a campaign that the family members of the postgraduate trainee were requested to accept compensation.
She then explained how the sequence of events took place after the crime, "Kolkata Police arrested the culprit within 12 hours of the incident. The Kolkata police commissioner sent one of his officers to meet the parents and showed CCTV footage to brief them about the investigation.
"When I reached their house, the CP was with me. I asked the CP to record all of their allegations. There are people accusing me of speaking of money. I never said any such thing. Show me a proof of that. This is a slanderous lie, a conspiracy." Banerjee asserted.
The chief minister had visited the residence of the murdered RG Kar hospital doctor on August 12 and met her parents.
"I told the parents that if they had plans to honour their daughter's memory, our government would stand by them. I know what words to utter in such situations.
"Even after I left, you (reporters) asked the parents about this. We have records of what I had said," she said.
The CM drew attention of a doctors' body demanding compensation for the family members of the victim.
"Before I went to the deceased doctor's home, the Residential Doctors' Forum had made an official statement in which they had mentioned adequate compensation to the family. They had made a demand. The SC has a directive to help the families of such victims," Banerjee said.
In an India Today report, the victim's mother was quoted accusing CM Banerjee of 'lying' she said that the CM assured them of a compensation to "build something in memory of your daughter."
She added, "I had said then that when my daughter gets justice, I will come to your office and take the compensation."
She also alleged that Banerjee was trying to strangle the protests taking place in Kolkata for her daughter's death.
Mamata Banerjee Urges People To 'Return To Festivities'
The chief minister took the opportunity to urge people to "return to festivities" as Durga puja is round the corner.
“If you stay on the roads every night, elderly people suffer from sleep deprivation because of noise pollution. We haven’t acted on state pollution control board norms. One month has passed. I request you to return to festivities and demand that the CBI completes investigations at the earliest,” she said.
The victim's mother described Banerjee's call for returning to Durga Puja festivities as "inhuman."
She reportedly 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."
"Durga Puja was celebrated in my house too. My daughter used to do it at home. But, now darkness has engulfed our lives. How can I tell people to celebrate the festival during this time," she added.
Banerjee also received flak from people in Bengal for this call and several social media users were seen writing "utshob e phirbo na" (wont return to festivities) or "lorai e firbo" (will return to the fight) as massive protests continue to be been across streets of Kolkata and other districts in the state.
Mamata Banerjee To Doctors In Bengal
The Bengal Chief Minister urged junior doctors to return to work promptly and instructed Health Secretary NS Nigam to monitor the Supreme Court's directives on the matter.
Earlier today, the Supreme Court ordered the striking resident doctors in West Bengal to resume their duties by 5 pm on Tuesday, warning that the state could take action if they missed the deadline.
This directive followed the Bengal government's assurance that no punitive measures would be imposed on the doctors upon their return.
"The Supreme Court has requested you to join duty, I will repeat that request. If you have anything to say, you are always welcome. You can form a team of 5 to 10 members and meet me," she said, offering across-the-table talks with the agitating doctors.
Mamata Banerjee On Kolkata CP's Resignation Request
Banerjee, who heads the home department, revealed that Kolkata CP Vineet Goyal had offered to resign multiple times in the past week but added, "We need someone who understands law and order and sees us through the Durga puja festivities".
“What’s the harm in being a little patient given that the pujas are round the corner?” she asked.
The Bengal CM praised the Kolkata Police for being patient and not taking any action against the agitating doctors.
"I am happy that our police maintained their calm and tackled law and order situations despite having bled themselves. This can only happen in Bengal because we respect democracy here. This does not happen in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, or in Delhi," Banerjee said.
She asked about the intention behind the ongoing protests over the medic's alleged rape and murder at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
"This (the protests) is definitely a conspiracy by the Centre and some Left parties are also involved in it. Some people are taking advantage of the recent turmoil in our neighbouring country. They have forgotten that India and Bangladesh are separate nations," she said.
Banerjee, who is also the health minister of the state, conveyed to the protesting doctors that their demands were fulfilled “as much as possible”.
"You visited the health secretary at Swasthya Bhavan and all four demands were met. We have removed the officials. We got indirect complaints and suspended two officials," she said.
On the allegations of denying facilities to central forces at RG Kar hospital, Banerjee claimed that adequate boarding facilities were provided to the personnel.
“We have provided them with a 30-bedded hospital space and an adjacent primary school for the forces to stay. We can also set up a temporary structure in a nearby plot with toilets, if required. But it’s not possible to arrange facilities in a congested part of the city more than what we already have. The Centre must also take responsibility instead of pinning blame on the state,” she said.
