Didi accuses opponents of Bangladeshi-style protests

Calcutta:West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused opposition parties of orchestrating a smear campaign against her government to seize power in the style of the “Bangladesh protest” following the brutal rape and murder of a woman doctor on duty at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last week.

The attack on Ms Banerjee took place hours before an all-women public protest vigil titled ‘Reclaim the Night-The Night is Ours-Justice for RG Kar’ on the eve of Independence Day, at various junctions across the state and country, to protest against the horrific crime. Interestingly, her party’s MLA Sukhendu Sekhar Roy also decided to join the apolitical public congregation.

In the evening, Ms Banerjee said at a TMC event in Behala: “What have we not done? Have we not expressed sympathy and taken action? We have taken all possible steps in this matter but a malicious campaign is still on. The CPI(M) and the BJP are trying to stage Bangladeshi-style protests to take over Bengal.” She also did not spare her Indian partner, the Congress, following criticism from party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi over the incident.

The TMC chief pointed out, “I would like to ask the Congress how many incidents took place in your states? What action did you take? And under the CPI(M) rule here earlier, a series of heinous crimes, but the then government remained silent. As there was no social media then, people were not informed instantly.”

Sending a message to the angry doctors, Ms Banerjee told them, “I urge the doctors who have not rejoined their duty. If this makes you happy… I will touch your feet and ask you to resume your duty to help people by providing them medical assistance. Three people have died, including a minor and a pregnant woman.”

To counter the opposition’s attack, Ms Banerjee later announced that the TMC would protest in all blocks, districts and municipalities across the state on August 17 against the Baam-Raam (BJP-Left) conspiracy to defame Bengal.