TMC Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar Quits Post Over Party's Handling Of Kolkata-Rape Murder Case

Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar resigned from his parliamentary post in protest of the West Bengal government's handling of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College Hospital.

In his resignation letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Sircar criticized the "unchecked overbearing attitude of the favoured few and the corrupt" within his own party.

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/sircar.j

Sircar expressed frustration over the lack of communication with Banerjee, stating he had been unable to speak with her privately for months, reported India Today.

He voiced his disillusionment, saying, "I became increasingly disillusioned as the state government seemed quite unconcerned about corruption and the increasing strong-arm tactics of a section of leaders."

Reflecting on the incident that led to widespread protests in Bengal, Sircar said the public outrage showed that the TMC government had lost the trust of the people.

"In all my years, I have not seen such angst and total no-confidence against the government, even when it says something correct or factual," he noted.

Regarding the government's response to the tragedy, he expressed disappointment, saying, "I have suffered patiently for a month since the terrible incident at RG Kar Hospital, and was hoping for your direct intervention with the agitating junior doctors, in the old style of Mamata Banerjee. It has not happened and whatever punitive steps that government is taking now are too little and quite late."

Sircar warned that if the TMC did not correct its course, "communal forces will capture this state." He advised the party to adopt a non-confrontational approach, emphasizing that the protests were primarily driven by a demand for justice rather than political motives.

In his letter, Sircar also announced his intention to step back from politics.

"I express my gratitude again for the opportunity you gave me to raise Bengal's issues in Parliament for three years, but I do not wish to continue as MP at all. My commitment to fight corruption, communalism, and authoritarianism in the Centre and the States is simply non-negotiable," he concluded.

Sircar's resignation follows growing internal dissent within the TMC over Banerjee's handling of the RG Kar incident.

Notably, TMC leader Santanu Sen was removed from his post after criticizing the functioning of the state-run hospital, and veteran leader Sukhendu Sekhar Ray questioned the police investigation into the doctor's rape and murder.