In the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case, the parents of the victim have expressed through their lawyer that they do not support the death penalty for the convict, though they remain silent when questioned directly. Their stance, coupled with calls for the West Bengal Chief Minister’s resignation, has ignited political controversy and debates over law enforcement’s effectiveness in the state.
Kolkata: In a shocking twist in the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case, the parents of the woman doctor who was brutally assaulted and killed last year have stated through their lawyer that they are not in favor of the death penalty for the man convicted of the crime. However, when approached by reporters, the grieving parents refused to confirm this stance.
The tragic incident, which shook Kolkata, has taken on a political dimension as the parents have also called for the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a move that has sparked a major political controversy.
While the parents’ lawyer conveyed their reluctance to pursue the death penalty, the West Bengal government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have appealed for a death sentence for the convict. The Calcutta High Court is set to decide which petition it will prioritize in the matter.
Expressing their frustration, the victim’s father told reporters,
“The CBI is not working at all and this is proved by the judgement copy of the Sealdah court. I can’t say more than this. Who will we go to? The state police let us down, and now the CBI is letting us down. Whom do we go to? I leave it to the judge of the High Court to decide.”
The case has reignited debates over law enforcement efficiency in West Bengal. Dr. Shashi Panja, the state’s Women and Child Development Minister, responded to the parents’ demand for Mamata Banerjee’s resignation, saying,
“The parents — we understand their sentiments. We have nothing to tell them. I remember once even Hon’ble Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that if my resignation is going to give her justice, I am ready to do it.”
However, Dr. Panja criticized the political exploitation of the tragedy, adding,
“But don’t we see a kind of mahaul (environment) which the political parties in Opposition to us are trying to create? They are trying to get advantage of a rape and murder, and it is so unfortunate.”
Senior Trinamool Congress leader and minister Firhad Hakim also accused the Opposition of influencing the victim’s parents for political gain. He stated that the parents’ remarks targeting the Chief Minister were being dictated by rival political forces.
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