‘Dismayed and horrified… enough is enough’: President Murmu on Kolkata doctor’s rape and murder

The President added that no civilised society can allow daughters and sisters to be subjected to such atrocities. “The nation is bound to be outraged, and so am I,” she wrote.

The article sent to PTI by the President was title “Women’s Safety: Enough is Enough” and comes at a time when protests have been raging across the country over the incident at the Kolkata hospital.

“Even as students, doctors and citizens were protesting in Kolkata, criminals remained on the prowl elsewhere. The victims include even kindergarten girls,” Murmu said.

She added: “They asked me innocently if they could be assured that there would be no recurrence of the Nirbhaya-type incident in future.”

The President further noted that an outraged nation then made plans and devised strategies, and the initiatives did make some difference. In the 12 years since, there have been countless tragedies of similar nature though only few drew nationwide attention, Murmu said.

“Did we learn our lessons? As social protests petered out, these incidents got buried into a deep and inaccessible recess of social memory, to be recalled only when another heinous crime takes place,” she said.

Speaking about the rights of women in the country, the President said that they have had to fight for every inch of ground they have won. Social prejudices as well as some customs and practices have always opposed the expansion of women’s rights, Murmu added.

“This is a rather deplorable mindset… This mindset sees the female as a lesser human being, less powerful, less capable, less intelligent,” she wrote.

According to the President, it is the objectification of women by a few that is behind the crimes against women. “It is ingrained deeply in the minds of such people,” the president said, stressing that countering this mindset is a task for both the State and society.

On Tuesday, a rally to the West Bengal state secretariat Nabanna, called by recently formed students group Chhatra Samaj to demand justice for the junior doctor who was raped and killed earlier this month, led to major clashes between protesters and police in several parts of Kolkata and Howrah.

West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose came down heavily on the government for the police action on protesters, saying: “What we saw on the streets of Kolkata is the worst that one can expect from a democratically elected government.”