West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday addressed a press conference minutes after the Supreme Court hearing of the RG Kar rape-murder ended and claimed that they did not offer any monetary compensation to the parents of the 31-year-old trainee doctor.
Mamata also urged the protesting junior doctors to end their ceasework, resume duties and return to the Durga Puja mood and festivities.
Earlier, the Supreme Court demanded a fresh status report from the CBI on September 17 on the RG Kar rape-murder and asked doctors to resume work by 5 pm September 10, reminding that the state is free to take actions if ceasework doesn’t end.
Here are key take-aways from the CM’s speech:
1. The victim’s family was not offered any money
Banerjee began by denying allegations she had offered monetary compensation to the family of the murdered doctor. “Money wasn’t offered to the family. They were told if you want to do some good work in the memory of your daughter then tell us. One has to prove if money was offered,”she said, claiming that her government only offered support if the family wished to set up a memorial in their daughter’s name.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goel file picture
2. Vineet Goyal’s resignation
Banerjee revealed Kolkata Police commissioner Vineet Goyal had offered his resignation following the protests at RG Kar hospital. “Kolkata CP Vineet Goyal offered to resign after RG Kar protests, but we need someone who knows law and order ahead of Durga Puja,” she said to the PTI.
Rally led by West Bengal state committees of SFI (Students' Federation of India), DYFI (Democratic Youth Federation of India) and AIDWA (All India Democratic Women's Association) file picture
3. Conspiracy by union government and Left
Mamata accused the central government and Left parties of taking advantage of the turmoil to destabilize her government. “This is definitely a conspiracy by the Centre, and some Left parties are also involved,” she alleged. “Some people are taking advantage of the turmoil in a neighbouring country, forgetting that India and Bangladesh are separate nations,” the CM added.
file picture
4. Return to Durga Puja festivities
Banerjee asked protesters to rejoin work and allow the city to return to its Durga Puja festivities. “It has been a month since the tragic incident. I appeal to everyone to embrace the Durga Puja festivities and bring an end to the demonstrations,” she said.
Patients being treated at the Abhaya Clinic run by junior doctors file picture
5. Appeal to doctors to end strike
Mamata Banerjee echoed the Supreme Court’s appeal for doctors to end their strike. “The Supreme Court has also requested the doctors to rejoin work. I am also requesting them to join,” she said, while also offering to meet with representatives of the protesting junior doctors.
Junior doctors from RG Kar at an ‘Abhaya Clinic’ at Kumartuli Picture by Gautam Bose
6. Toll of the strike?
According to the Chief minister, the protests have resulted in the postponement of nearly 7,000 surgeries and the delay of 1,500 emergency cardiovascular interventions.
Prior to Mamata’s appeal, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the West Bengal government, submitted a status report filed by the state health department. “Twenty-three people have died as doctors are on strike," Sibal told the Chief Justice of India-led bench.
Mamata Banerjee speaks at the meeting in Calcutta with Durga Puja organisers in 2022 Sanat Kr Sinha
7. Durga Puja honorarium controversy
On the controversy surrounding the government’s Rs 85,000 Durga Puja honorarium, which many Puja committees have refused in protest of the RG Kar incident, Banerjee said that “Puja committees who have refused the government fund will be removed from the list and new Puja committees will be included.”
