The BJP, aiming to intensify its “anti-corruption” campaign, has decided to escalate its protest efforts in all medical colleges across Bengal without getting directly involved in the ongoing movement of junior doctors over the RG Kar tragedy.
The BJP’s decision to scale up its fishing operations in the muddied waters of the RG Kar fallout was made during an organisational meeting at their party office on Sunday, following Saturday’s arrests of former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh and Tala police station’s former officer-in-charge, Abhijit Mondal, for alleged evidence tampering and altering the crime scene after the August 9 rape and murder of the junior doctor.
BJP sources said that the party decided to go for all-out protests in medical colleges in Bengal this week.
“The conveners of the doctors’ cell and the Swasthya Pariseva cell have been asked to speak to relevant persons in medical colleges so that they can start demonstrations this week,” a senior BJP leader said on Sunday.
Political scientists believe that having been pushed out of Calcutta streets mainly by the Left and extreme Left forces, the BJP is now attempting to gain a foothold in Bengal’s districts and rural areas. The plan to organise protests in various medical colleges is a part of this strategy.
Bengal BJP chief spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Samik Bhattacharya said: “We have been saying from Day One that we fully support the movement of junior doctors but never wanted to be a part of it. It is their movement.... If they need help, we will be happy to help.”
“The arrest of Ghosh and Mondal in rape and murder case has only justified our stance. We first said that evidence had been tampered with. There are many more behind it and we want all of them to be punished,” state BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar said.
The BJP has planned to extend its protests to rural Bengal. From Tuesday, it aims to strengthen its presence in areas where it has traditionally lagged behind Trinamool by organising street corner meetings at railway stations, bus stands and marketplaces.
The party refused to admit it was trying to remain relevant in districts after becoming politically marginalised in Calcutta. “We are the main Opposition in Bengal. The medical corruption in Bengal is huge and we will expose it,” a senior BJP leader said.