BJP continues its torch rally against RG Kar college incident, alleges "systematic failure"

Howrah (West Bengal) [India], September 23 (ANI): Even as the Junior doctors called off protests, the Bhartiya Janata party is continuing a torch march across West Bengal alleging "systematic failure" in the RG Kar medical hospital rape and murder of a 33-year-old trainee doctor.

The BJP is holding torch rallies in various districts of West Bengal, calling for the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. They accuse the state's administration of attempting to cover up the situation.

BJP leader Sukanto Majumdar, who led the BJP rally against West Bengal government in Jagatballavpur, while speaking to ANI said, "The BJP has been protesting all along against how the incident of the RG Kar hospital is being suppressed. A doctor's statement came recently where she revealed that she was threatened to be killed if she did not perform the postmortem. Such things can happen when the whole system is involved, including the police".

Majumdar emphasized the BJP's call for justice, stating, "This is a systemic failure. We have consistently called for Mamata Banerjee's resignation, which is why we are protesting in every district."

Junior doctors in West Bengal called off their strike last week after West Bengal, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant assured safety and security implementations, agreeing to their demands.

The strike that had gone for more than 40 days against the rape-murder incident that took place at RG Kar hospital in Kolkata, finally came to an end, said junior doctors; however, emergency services resumed but OPD services still remain suspended.

One of the members of the junior doctors front, Dr Aqeeb while speaking to ANI, said that they have secured a commitment from the state government to improve their safety and security, following a meeting with the Chief Secretary. However, a timeline for implementation remains uncertain.

"On the 41st day of the protest, the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front wants to say that we achieved a lot during our agitation, but many things remain unachieved. We made the Kolkata Commissioner of Police resign and the DME, DHS resign. But this doesn't mean the agitation is over. We will take it forward in a new way. We have received a directive from Nabanna after our meeting with the Chief Secretary yesterday. In the directive, we have been assured that safety and security implementations will be made, but it has not been specified when," he said.

"Threat culture has claimed the life of 'Abhaya'... We still demand that the principal secretary be removed and action be taken on threat culture," he added.

The Anti-Corruption Branch of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar medical college on September 2.

Ghosh was under investigation for alleged corruption and financial irregularities at the college and hospital, following a directive from a single bench of the Calcutta High Court, which ordered the CBI to probe the matter.

A woman trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. (ANI)