TMC Responds To Call For CM Mamata Banerjee's Resignation, Calls It 'Patriarchy'

Amid the uproar following the rape and murder of a postgraduate doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has strongly defended West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

In response to the opposition's demands for Banerjee's resignation, the TMC labeled these calls as "patriarchal," questioning why male chief ministers do not face similar scrutiny when heinous crimes occur in their states.

Chandrima Bhattacharya, a Bengal minister, speaking to news channel NDTV said, "There have been so many incidents in so many places. Why the demand for the resignation of the only woman Chief Minister of the country, who won three successive elections? No demands for the resignation of any male Chief Minister for incidents in other places. That is how patriarchy is."

The TMC also criticised the Nabanna Abhijan, a protest march organised by students and doctors demanding justice for the junior doctor, who was found dead on August 9.

The party suggested that this protest was an attempt to create chaos, with Bhattacharya accusing the BJP-ABVP of orchestrating a plot to disrupt the state.

She stated, "There is a BJP-ABVP plot to create disturbance. There is a plot to open fire by criminals in police uniform. Tomorrow there are exams. Can students do this? They are doing vulture politics."

The TMC leader said that while protests can take place, they must be peaceful and held at designated places with proper permission from the police.

Kunal Ghosh, another TMC leader, questioned the motives behind the rally to the state secretariat and why students were not protesting at the CBI office since the agency had taken over the investigation.

Ghosh also presented videos allegedly showing individuals advocating for violence to ensure the success of the rally, which he linked to right-wing groups and some leftists, including the CPI(M).

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) denied any involvement in the rally, stating that if their members participated, it was in an individual capacity.

The Opposition, including the BJP, has accused the TMC of covering up the crime and protecting the accused, leading to calls for Mamata Banerjee's resignation.

(With agency inputs)