Kolkata News Highlights: Petitions filed in Supreme Court, medical services hit across India

BJP leader Smriti Irani said, "Does the CM of Bengal want to ensure that investigations are not completed in totality? Why is she in a hurry knowing that these questions are still unanswered?..."

Smriti Irani, while speaking about the vandalisation of the RK Kar Medical College, said, "Rapists are carefree but the protestors are being attacked by a mob. How is it possible that a group of hooligans are in the state and the police do not know about it? How is it possible that they enter and vandalise the hospital and media reports say that they vandalise those that could be part of the evidence?...The question is will the girl get justice or not?"

BJP leader Smriti Irani said, "...The question arises did no one hear the screams of that woman on that floor? It has also come to light from media reports that 150 mg of semen was found in that woman. Is this the work of one rapist? Was it possible that one person was raping that woman, breaking her legs, breaking her hands, gouging out her eyes, hitting her chest, hitting her stomach, and that woman was screaming and no one heard her? And this entire act was committed by one rapist alone? Who is the one because of whom the rapist was assured in the hospital that he could return home after committing the rape? Who is the one who continued the renovation on the same floor of the hospital even after such a heinous crime? What action has been taken so far against the officer in the police who called the parents of this woman and told them that the girl had committed suicide? Who instructed that officer to tell the girl's parents that it was a suicide? If that officer is his superior officer, then how did he reach this conclusion?..."

BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan said, "The brutal, heinous rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor in Kolkata has shaken and shocked the conscience of the entire nation. The prime minister yesterday in his Independence Day speech expressed pain and said, this is a demonic act and urged the state governments to act immediately and take action. The West Bengal model has become one of mobocracy and anarchy. When India is marching, brightly in its 78th year of independence, West Bengal is gripped by a dangerous darkness. This is due to a complete breakdown of administrative and security in the state. So we are here to demand why the chief minister, Mamata Banerjee and the health minister have not resigned...."

IMA has declared 24-hour withdrawal of services by all the modern medicine doctors of the country irrespective of the sector and place of work. Emergencies and casualties will function. No OPDs. No elective surgeries. The withdrawal commences at 6 am on Saturday 17th August 2024 and ends at 6 am on Sunday 18th August 2024. (ANI)

Mamata Banerjee said during the protest march at RG Kar Medical College that the “nexus of Left and BJP should be exposed.”

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee held a women's rally at the RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata and said, “We want truth to come out, but some quarters peddling lies to mislead people.”

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra posted on X, "The cruelties against women in Kolkata, Bihar, Uttarakhand and UP have shaken the entire country. At this time, women across the country are in grief and anger.

Whenever such incidents happen, the women of the country see what the governments are doing? How serious are their words and measures? Wherever there was a need to send a strong message about the safety of women, efforts were made to save the accused. Repeated leniency in cases of heinous atrocities on women, political protection to the accused and actions like granting bail/parole to convicted prisoners discourage women.

What message does this send to the women of the country? When government statistics show 86 rapes taking place every day, from whom should women expect protection?"

CPI (M) General Secretary D Raja said, "What has happened in Kolkata is a heinous crime. Now the agitation continues. Not only in Kolkata and West Bengal, the agitation is there across the country. Not only the medical community, doctors, and nurses, but other women's organizations are also joining the protest. So now the West Bengal state government must convincingly tell the people how the government has been taking strong action against culprits. How the government is considering conceding the demands made by doctors and other medical personnel? The West Bengal government should not engage in blame game...She (Mamata Banerjee) should stop the blame game. Mamata Banerjee is West Bengal's chief minister and the law and order is the responsibility of the state government. Instead of accusing the opposition, instead of engaging in the blame game, she must honestly tell the doctors, she must tell the people of Bengal what their government has been doing and is going to do (in the matter). This is what people want. But she is politicalizing and trying to blame others and not addressing the real concerns expressed by the doctors and the medical personnel..."

BRS working president KT Rama Rao said, "This incident has traumatized the nation...Not just the West Bengal incident, incidents of sexual harassment, honour killing, molestation, rapes, cruelty against women, physical violence, and abuse, all put us to shame...Gender sensitivity is something that is lacking in this country... We need to come together as a society and evolve, raise above pettiness and start talking to our boy children more. We need to tell them where to draw the line and what not to indulge in. We need to tell them how they will be punished and will be thrown out of society...This will not happen with a one-day lecture, it will take time...but we are the world's largest economy and we need to rise above this...."

BJP leader and actress Roopa Ganguly said, "We will continue our protest. Please remember that today it is not only a political party as an opposition. Not only us but the common people have woken up. You saw how lakhs of women joined the protest on August 14. Those are the voices of West Bengal. Even people from TMC joined the protest."

West Bengal Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal said, "We had posted photographs and videos of the people on our Facebook page... We would like to request you circulate it widely and anyone can give us any information about any person irrespective of their political affiliations... Action will be taken against the accused. We have arrested around 25 people and photographs of 9 people have been matched..."

The former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was summoned by the CBI for questioning regarding the rape and murder of the junior doctor on the premises, reported India Today.

Protesting doctors in Delhi said, "If our demands are not heard, we will stop all emergency services. We don't want to do that but it will be our last resort if we are not heard."

Siliguri MLA and Chief Whip in the state assembly, Dr Sankar Ghosh said, "We have only one demand that Mamata (Banerjee) must resign. After observing all the incidents- from Kamduni, Park Street, Matigara, Chopra, Ariadaha, Kaliaganj, and Hanshkhali, it seems she has failed to run the government. After the incident of RG Kar, it is obvious that the CM tried to hide the crime scene from the media... Women are victimised time and again. The culprits are booked but not punished..."

BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia said, "There has been a breakdown of the state machinery. The uniform is supposed to protect the citizens of the state. When there are pressures on the uniform and police to act contrary to the spirit of the constitution, to protect and shield certain criminals who have affiliation with the political party and especially if that political party is the party in power we see such incidents happening. There are constitutional checks and balances like the High Court and Supreme Court...Mamata Banerjee needs to realise that you can't murder the truth..."

Union Minister Chirag Paswan said, "Your (Mamata Banerjee's) government and administration have failed. The way thousands of anti-social elements entered to erase the pieces of evidence shows that there is someone who wants to save them. It is her government's responsibility that evidence is not tampered with. Instead of levelling allegations, the West Bengal CM should ensure that there is no tampering of evidence and extend support to the CBI team. Every person in the country is enraged."

A protesting doctor told ANI, "We are tired of protesting. This is not what we studied for. We did not crack entrance exams for protesting. We are very happy working at hospitals. Please give us the safety so that we can go back and work at our hospitals."

BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla said, "The Calcutta High Court has no faith in the West Bengal government and police. That's why the investigation has been handed over to the CBI...When will Mamata Banerjee take responsibility for the incident? When will she tender her resignation? There is no moral authority, legal authority or constitutional propriety left for Mamata Banerjee to continue as Chief Minister of West Bengal for even a minute. She has failed the citizens of West Bengal...She has failed her constitutional obligations...She said that the violence that took place on 14-15 August was done by 'Bam and Ram'. The anti-Hindu mindset of TMC doesn't even rest in a case as sensitive as this..."