Kolkata Protests Against Injustice To Its Brutalised Daughter
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
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By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2024-09-08 11:10:26
About the Author
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
View all posts by this Author
Protests Remain Apolitical
The protest against the rape-murder of a doctor at Kolkata's R G Kar Hospital is gaining further momentum even though a month has passed. Junior doctors, demanding increased security and deeper investigation in what they claim is a conspiracy, are up in arms against the TMC government in the state. The apolitical protests were in the danger of being hijacked by the BJP but sanity has prevailed after protests against BJP interference by civil society. The party is now keeping its distance and the protests are being led by doctors, activists and students who have no known political affiliations.
Reclaim The Night
One such protest is 'Reclaim the Night', during which protestors march from one place to another and then conduct a vigil at any important street junction, with thousands participating in the rallies. The protestors light up the streets with their mobile phone torches or candles at midnight in a symbolic act to reclaim the night for women and make it safer for them. The third such protest is going to be held today, the 8th of September and increased participation is expected.
Localised Protests
Further, instead of taking out large rallies that crisscross the streets of the city, the protests have now become localised. In each residential area, women, men and teenagers congregate at important street crossings, painting slogans on the road and demanding action from the government. These local protests have drawn the attention of the international media too.
Aparajita Bill Flayed
Meanwhile, the Aparajita Bill passed in the state assembly mandating death or jail till death penalty for rapists has drawn flak from women activists and lawyers who have called it a "knee-jerk" reaction from the state government. Also, the CBI has found many irregularities in the conduct of the former Sandip Ghosh and has also hinted at a criminal nexus between him and one of the co-accused in the case. Ghosh is already under custody and is being questioned.
Citizens Rise
The residents of city of Kolkata have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the protesting doctors. But the same cannot be said of the TMC government which has displayed a surprising attitude in a criminal case in which it should have sided with the doctors. This has raised the question whether the government has something to hide and has spurred the ordinary citizens, especially girls and women, to stand with the doctors. The protesting doctors have also asked everyone to stop work for 30 minutes on Monday, 9th September at 10 am, just before the hearing in the Supreme Court.
