RG Kar Horror: Secretariat March by Students’ Body on August 27 Triggers TMC vs BJP Battle in Bengal

The RG Kar case, in which a 31-year-old trainee doctor was found raped and murdered on the hospital’s premises, has triggered widespread protests across Bengal. The latest in the series of agitations is a ‘Nabanna Abhiyan’ (march to Secretariat) planned by the Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj — a 10-day-old students’ body — on Tuesday, August 27, if chief minister Mamata Banerjee does not resign by Monday.

Though the rally is not being held under the banner of any political party, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has asked people from all walks of life to come out on the streets and protest. His colleague Sukanta Majumdar also sought the aam aadmi’s support for the rally.

Sayan Lahiri, who is spearheading the movement, told News18 that the protest began with a Facebook post that made it clear the chief minister was “incompetent”. “We have three demands — justice for Abhaya [the trainee doctor], capital punishment for the culprit, and Banerjee’s resignation because she is not just the health minister but also handles the state police. The TMC is trying to portray that the protest is being led by BJP but we are a part of the common people. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has said he will join in. Teachers who have not got justice will walk with us. We have given Banerjee time till 6pm on Monday. Either she resigns or we march to the secretariat.”

Source told News18 that the group has decided to start the movement from Satraganchi and College Square of Howrah and Kolkata respectively.

Two years ago, BJP’s march to the secretariat over corruption had turned violent. To avoid a re-run, police have decided to deploy extra personnel and sent a notice to the organisers to find out more details of the movement.

ADG South Bengal Supratim Sarkar said they were expecting that miscreants would try and create problems during the rally. “We have Intelligence input that they will go to any level and try to create ruckus. Police will be alert. One of the organisers met a politician in a hotel. This rally is illegal as no permission has been sought.”

Reacting to the rally, TMC’s Kunal Ghosh said it was orchestrated by political parties. In a press conference, Ghosh showed two videos to claim that the march was an attempt to destabilise Bengal. “They are trying to bring people from outside. They are planning to wear the police uniform and fire in the crowd, leading to chaos. The NET exam is being held on Tuesday. The protesters want to create violence. TMC also wants justice for the doctor’s family. However, when the investigation is in the hands of CBI now, why they are calling for a march to the secretariat?”