Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has sharply criticized the West Bengal government and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the handling of the rape and murder case involving a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Speaking at an event in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Singh described the incident as “heart-wrenching” and “tragic,” and lamented that despite changes in laws and strict actions by the central government, many states, including West Bengal, are not making sincere efforts to address crimes against women.
Singh highlighted that the central government has enacted laws providing for capital punishment for heinous crimes like rape and stressed the need for their strict implementation. His comments come as the case remains unsolved more than 20 days after the 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor's body was discovered.
The incident has fueled significant political activity. The BJP has intensified its pressure on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, organizing a series of protests demanding her resignation and justice for the victim. On Friday, the BJP continued its sit-in protest at Esplanade, part of a week-long series of demonstrations.
Opposition parties, including Congress and the Left, have also mobilized against the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government. Congress rallied from College Square to Shyambazar in Kolkata while the Left organized street protests. The TMC plans to stage its demonstrations across colleges in Bengal and has called for a new law mandating capital punishment for rapists, with sit-ins scheduled for August 31.