Kolkata rape-murder case Highlights: IMA suspends membership of former RG Kar Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh

A war of words broke out between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee over the latter’s statements on the BJP’s protests in Kolkata and rest of the state over a junior doctor’s alleged rape and murder at R G Kar Hospital.

Sharing a video of Mamata’s speech at a rally in Kolkata, Himanta wrote on social media platform X: “Didi, how dare you threaten Assam? Don’t show us red eyes.”

He added: “Don’t try to burn India with your politics of failure, it does not suit you to speak the divisive language.”

Here's what Jharkhand BJP leader Sita Soren said on President Droupadi Murmu's remarks over Kolkata rape-murder case. “What has happened is very concerning. We need to take a lesson from this because incidents like this happen very often. Our daughters are not safe in this country. Everyone is concerned and our President has also expressed her concern. She is also worried and therefore, has given a message that we should not forget incidents like this.”

Here are the key points from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's statements regarding the amendment for the death penalty for rapists:

📌Zero Tolerance Policy: Banerjee emphasized her government's commitment to a zero-tolerance stance on rape incidents.

📌Amendment Proposal: An amendment to existing laws will be introduced in the state assembly next week to ensure capital punishment for convicted rapists.

📌Dharna Threat: The Chief Minister threatened to stage a dharna outside Raj Bhavan if the governor delays assent to the bill or forwards it to the President.

📌Grassroots Movement: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) plans to initiate a grassroots movement starting Saturday to pressure the Central government for legislation on capital punishment for rapists.

📌Appeal to Junior Doctors: Banerjee urged junior doctors to return to work after a 20-day strike, expressing sympathy for their cause but highlighting the suffering of patients.

📌Call for Justice: She criticized the delay in updates from the CBI regarding the investigation into the rape-murder of a doctor, demanding timely justice.

📌Mamata slams BJP: Banerjee condemned the BJP for calling a general strike, accusing them of exploiting the situation for political gain and attempting to disrupt the investigation.

📌Political Accountability: She questioned why Prime Minister Modi has not resigned over violence against women in other states, implying selective accountability.

📌Allegations of Violence: Banerjee reported attacks on TMC supporters and criticized the BJP's control over various agencies, claiming they incite unrest.

📌Durga Puja Concerns: Banerjee alleged a BJP conspiracy to disrupt Durga Puja festivities, which are economically significant for the poor.

📌Upcoming TMC Actions: On August 31, the TMC student wing will demand capital punishment for rapists in every college, followed by dharnas in every block.

In an order, the Indian Medical Association said the committee constituted by IMA national president Dr R V Asokan on Wednesday suo-motu considered the rape and murder case of the postgraduate resident doctor and the subsequent developments at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The IMA general secretary along with Asokan had met the victim's parents at their home, it said.

"They had put up their grievances against you (Ghosh) in dealing with the situation as well as lack of empathy and sensitivity in handling the issue in appropriate manner befitting the responsibility held by you in your dealings with them," the order said.

"The IMA Bengal state branch as well as certain associations' of doctors also have demanded action citing the nature of disrepute brought by you to the profession on the whole," it said.

The order said the disciplinary committee of the IMA has "unanimously decided to suspend you forthwith from the membership of Indian Medical Association."

On August 28, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) suspended the membership of Dr Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, amidst a CBI investigation into the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor at the institution. The decision, made by the IMA's disciplinary committee, followed grievances from the victim's parents regarding Ghosh's handling of the situation, citing a lack of empathy and sensitivity. The IMA stated that his actions brought disrepute to the medical profession, leading to a unanimous suspension from the association.

BJP workers clashed with the police at several places across West Bengal on Wednesday as they tried to enforce a 12-hour shutdown, which had a mixed impact in the state.

Several BJP leaders, including former MPs Roopa Ganguly and Locket Chatterjee, Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya and MLA Agnimitra Paul, were detained for blocking roads since the morning.

The 'Bangla Bandh', which began at 6 am, was called by the BJP in protest against Tuesday's police action on participants of 'Nabanna Abhijan' or march to the secretariat, organised by the newly formed students' group Chatra Samaj over the rape and murder of the doctor at RG Kar hospital.

The shutdown partially affected daily life in the state with many people choosing to remain indoors apprehending trouble on the roads.

Declaring “enough is enough”, President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said it is time for India to wake up to the “perversion” of crimes against women and counter the mindset that sees women as “less powerful, less capable, less intelligent”. “Those who share such views then go further and see the female as an object… We owe it to our daughters to remove the hurdles from their path of winning the freedom from fear,” Murmu said in an exclusive for the news agency PTI. Referring to the August 9 rape and murder of a junior doctor in a Kolkata hospital, a “dismayed and horrified” president said what is even more depressing is that it is part of a series of crimes against women.