TMC, BJP To Hit The Streets To Demand Justice For RG Kar Victim; 1 Chhatra Samaj Leader Held For Nabanna 'Violence' | Updates

Amid ongoing unrest over the rape-murder of a woman doctor at state-run RG Kar Hospital here on August 9, both the ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition BJP have announced street protests with the shared demand for justice for the victim.

The BJP alleged that even after a permission from the court for its dharna, the police are creating issues for the party since Wednesday night (August 28). State party chief Sukanta Majumdar went to the site of the protest at midnight and monitored the work on the stage.

The BJP’s announcement to stage a protest comes after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee went on the offensive with her statement about an “anti-rape” law in the state. She criticised the central government for failing to introduce a legislation to ensure faster trials and exemplary punishments for rapists in a timely manner.

Here are the latest updates:

‘Will Mamata Hang Sheikh Shahjahan’: Amit Malviya’s Swipe At Bengal CM Over Sandeshkhali Case

A day after the West Bengal cabinet approved a proposal to introduce a new Bill aimed at preventing rape and ensuring stricter punishments for such crimes, BJP leader Amit Malviya took a swipe at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee saying if she will also ensure capital punishment for Sheikh Shahjahan.

Former TMC strongman Shahjahan, who is behind bars, is accused of land grabbing and sexual assault charges in the Sandeshkhali case that was in the spotlight before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Malviya said if he is not hanged for his crimes, this is just another “drama to exploit heightened sentiments”.

“Will Mamata Banerjee agree to hang Sheikh Shahjahan within 10 days of passing this Bill? If not, this is just another drama to exploit heightened sentiments, in the aftermath of brutal rape and murder of the lady doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital,” Malviya said on social media.

On Wednesday (August 28), Banerjee criticised the BJP-led Centre for failing to introduce a legislation to ensure faster trials and exemplary punishments for rapists in a timely manner. She said Bengal will introduce a tough legislation that ensures capital punishment in seven days.

“Let us not forget that Mamata Banerjee dragged her feet on Sheikh Shahjahan and Sandeshkhali for months. She defended the rapist Shahjahan on the floor of West Bengal assembly and called the raped women propagandists. Mamata Banerjee is the ultimate apologist for those accused of rape and murder. We have all seen how she and Commissioner of Kolkata Police went out of their way to protect criminals behind the RG Kar MCH episode,” the BJP leader said in a post on X.

BJP announces series of protests from Aug 29 to Sep 6

BJP state president and Union minister Sukanta Majumdar announced a series of protests starting Thursday (August 29). Activists will stage a sit-in at Esplanade Y Channel, while the party’s women’s wing will gherao the state women’s commission office on Friday (August 30).

The BJP plans to intensify protests with gheraos of district magistrate offices on September 2, sit-ins before block offices on September 4, and further demonstrations at every mandal on September 6. Additionally, the party will stage a two-hour chakka jam in the first week of September.

Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said the party will also hold three rallies demanding the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He said one of the rallies will proceed to her Kalighat residence, while the other two will head to the state secretariat, Nabanna, and the Kolkata Police headquarters, Lalbazar. These rallies will also call for the resignation of city police commissioner Vineet Goyal.

TMC to hold street protests from August 30 to September 1

At the foundation day event of TMC’s student wing, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that student unions will hold protests at every college gate on August 30, demanding capital punishment for the perpetrators.

On August 31, sit-ins and rallies will be organised in every block, while on September 1, women, including students, will stage all-day sit-ins in blocks to demand death penalty for the rapists and amendments to existing laws.