In the early days of 1993, West Bengal was under the Left Front government led by Jyoti Basu. During that time, a physically disabled girl was raped in Nadia district. The incident caused an uproar in the state, and attacks on Jyoti Basu’s government began. Mamata Banerjee, who was an emerging leader at the time, brought the victim to the West Bengal government secretariat, the Writers’ Building. Mamata accused the government of not arresting the culprits due to their political connections and demanded a meeting with the then-Chief Minister Jyoti Basu. When her demand was not met, she began a sit-in protest in front of the CM’s chamber.

When Jyoti Basu refused to meet Mamata Banerjee, the police forcibly removed her and the victim from the secretariat. Female police officers dragged Mamata down the stairs, tearing her clothes in the process. After this incident, Mamata vowed that she would only set foot in that building again when she became the Chief Minister. After 18 years of struggle, Mamata entered the building as Chief Minister on May 20, 2011, shaking the foundations of Left rule in West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee continued her protests and demonstrations against the Left Front government for 18 years. Her struggle shook the foundation of Leftist rule and eventually brought her to power. It is said that former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu was so upset with Mamata’s politics that he never publicly mentioned her name, always referring to her as “that woman.”

Mamata Banerjee’s political career has been filled with struggles and controversies. The recent rape-murder case of a doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital has once again put Mamata under scrutiny. But this is not the first time Mamata Banerjee’s role in rape cases has been questioned. There was an incident in Hanskhali, where Mamata dismissed the rape case as an “affair.” Similarly, when people protested against a rape in Kamudini, she labeled them as CPI(M) supporters. Mamata Banerjee’s controversial statements on rape cases during her tenure have often made headlines, especially when the allegations involved members of her party. Throughout her years in power, Mamata has often labeled rape cases as “false.” When asked to respond to rape cases as a woman leader, she presents herself as a victim. If the opposition questions her, Mamata does not hesitate to turn the tables and accuse them instead.

The rape-murder case of a trainee doctor in Kolkata has once again put Mamata Banerjee’s leadership under the spotlight. The role of her government and the statements she has made regarding rape cases remain fresh in people’s memories. The people of West Bengal, who have witnessed Mamata Banerjee’s struggle and courage, are now asking her why her approach to heinous crimes like rape is so passive. The question on everyone’s mind is whether Mamata Banerjee will show the same courage today as she did in 1993.

The BJP has sharply reacted to this transfer decision. The party has alleged that doctors who criticized the state government were transferred. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla has termed the decision of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s government as a “Talibani fatwa.” Poonawalla shared a post on X (formerly Twitter), claiming that doctors who spoke out against the heinous incident were transferred on the orders of Mamata Banerjee. He also shared WhatsApp chat screenshots confirming that the state government targeted those who were vocal against the incident.

BJP IT cell chief and party’s Bengal co-in-charge Amit Malviya also attacked the state government regarding the transfers. He wrote, “On August 16, the Bengal government’s health department released an eight-page long transfer list, exacerbating the situation.” Malviya alleged that Mamata Banerjee is targeting Kolkata Medical College and Calcutta National Medical College. Senior doctors from these institutions have been transferred to places like Siliguri, Tamluk, and Jhargram. He described it as a desperate attempt by the government to intimidate senior doctors and gain their support.

The incident of violence at RG Kar Hospital on the night of August 14-15 took a new turn when a group of around 40 people entered the hospital premises, causing extensive damage and mayhem. Following this, the hospital’s nursing staff went on strike demanding security and created a hostile environment against the principal. Additionally, junior doctors at the hospital have been on strike for a long time, conducting demonstrations. The state government’s action comes amidst criticisms that it has targeted protesting doctors. Many experts view such measures as an attempt to suppress dissent and prevent marginalized voices from being heard.

By Neelam Singh.