The mother of the 31-year-old doctor, who was raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, has accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of ’lying’ after the latter claimed that her government did not offer money to the victim’s family after the dreadful incident occurred last month.
Banerjee, on Monday, addressed the media moments after the Supreme Court heard the rape and murder case. During the press conference, she made a number of statements and claims that have irked not only the parents of the junior doctor but also the protesters who have been walking the streets of Kolkata demanding justice for the victim.
“I have never offered money to the deceased doctor’s family, this is nothing but slander,” the Trinamool Congress chief said, adding that she instead said that “money can never compensate for a life” and that if the parents wanted to do something in memory of their daughter, they could reach out to her.
The Kolkata rape case has outraged the entire city with members of the medical fraternity seeking justice for the 31-year-old victim and demanding better working conditions for doctors in government hospitals across the state. From candlelight marches to 3-4 km long human chains, protestors are leaving no stone unturned to raise their voice against atrocities against women.
‘Why would I lie in my daughter’s name?’
The victim’s mother, meanwhile, rejected Mamata’s claims, saying, “The chief minister is lying. My daughter is not going to return. Would I lie in her name? She told us that we would receive money and suggested that we create something in our daughter’s memory. I responded that I would collect the money once my daughter gets justice.”
Echoing the mother’s statement, the doctor’s cousin took “full responsibility” in saying that the chief minister herself offered the money to the family.
Since the case blew up in August, the victim’s family has made a number of serious allegations against the West Bengal government saying that the state police have been trying to cover up the case.
Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation, probing the case of financial irregularities at RG Kar, arrested the former principal Sandip Ghosh last week.
‘Durga Pujo will never be celebrated in my house again’
Kolkata, which usually decks up for Durga Pujo at this time of the year, is instead witnessing one of its largest protests led by common people.
The West Bengal chief minister, in her press conference, urged demonstrators to stop protesting and return to festival preparations ahead of Durga Pujo next month.
“It has been a month (since the August 9 incident). I request you return to Pujo, return to the festivities and ask the CBI to ensure justice as soon as possible,” she said.
Slamming her statement as ‘inhuman’, the victim’s mother said, “Durga Puja is celebrated in my house too; my daughter used to handle it herself. But it will never be celebrated in my house again. The light in my home is out. How can I ask people to return to festival?”
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