In a letter addressed to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Jawhar Sircar announced his decision to resign from the Rajya Sabha following the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata. Sircar expressed disappointment that Banerjee had not intervened in the crisis “in the old Mamata style” he had expected.
Sircar, who plans to formally submit his resignation to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, criticized the government’s response to the ongoing agitation by doctors and accused it of being ineffective and delayed. He voiced frustration over what he perceives as a failure to address the “unchecked overbearing attitude” and corruption within the system.
The resignation follows the tragic incident on August 9, where a trainee doctor was found murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The arrest of Sanjay Roy for the crime has been overshadowed by controversies regarding the hospital administration’s handling of the case. Allegations have emerged that the former principal, Dr. Sandip Ghosh, attempted to cover up the murder as a suicide, and there were delays in filing the FIR and allowing the victim’s family to view the body.
Sircar’s resignation marks his intention to completely disengage from politics. He claimed that the government’s measures in response to the crisis have been insufficient and that prompt action could have restored normalcy sooner.
The TMC has responded by stating that while Sircar’s decision is personal, the party remains focused on addressing public grievances and clarifying misunderstandings about the administration’s role. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh emphasized that the party, under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, is committed to addressing the concerns raised by the incident.
In contrast, the BJP has called for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s resignation, accusing her administration of institutionalizing corruption and mishandling the investigation. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticized the TMC government for allegedly trying to suppress evidence and protect the accused.
As protests continue, the focus remains on how the state government will respond to the growing demand for justice and accountability.
