‘Want truth to come out… some spreading lies to mislead public’: Mamata leads protest rally

Alleging that attempts are being made to “cover up the truth” about the crime that happened in Kolkata last week, the CM said that some people are “spreading misinformation to mislead the public”. She also alleged that the CPI(M) and BJP were behind the attack on the emergency building (R G Kar hospital) on August 14.

“I know that the CPI(M) and BJP vandalised the hospital. They went there around 12 or 1 am. The video shows that CPI(M) supporters took the DYFI flag and BJP supporters took the Tricolour. They went to get rid of proof at night. Broke machines, CCTV. A hospital is not a place for vandalism… It is a place to treat sick patients. The loss amounts to crores. Will the Left Front or BJP give this money? We want the truth to come out… some are spreading lies to mislead people. Attempts are being made to hide the truth by circulating fake news on social media platforms. We condemn such activities,” Banerjee told the gathering.

Questioning the BJP and the CPI(M), Banerjee asked how many teams they had sent to probe alleged rape cases in Manipur, Hathras or Unnao (in UP). She also mentioned rape and murder cases that happened under Left rule, and criticised the CPI (M). “We will continue our protest…”

TMC leaders, meanwhile, said that the public outrage is understandable, but the CBI taking over the case should not lead to it “being quietly buried”. They also warned of “fake propaganda” going around on social media on the rape-murder incident.

In a post on X, Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien said: “It is hard to conceive of a more heinous, bestial crime than the rape and murder of the young woman in Kolkata. The public outrage is entirely understandable. Thoughts and prayers with her family.”

However, O’Brien said, the CBI — which is probing the case — should give daily updates on the investigation, and complete it before August 17. “CBI… must give daily updates on the probe… The deadline given by the CM to Kolkata Police to finish the probe was August 17. The same must apply to CBI… CBI taking over the case shouldn’t lead to it being quietly buried,” the TMC leader said.

TMC MP Mahua Moitra also wrote on X: “…it is necessary to separate facts from false propaganda… Number one, there is a figure of 150 grams of bodily fluids being floated around by the media. The first thing to remember is that the autopsy, post-mortem was carried out in the presence of a judicial magistrate, in the presence of three doctors as witnesses, and in the presence of the family. The entire procedure was videographed. It was not possible to tamper with anything…,” she said.

-with PTI inputs