Jawhar Sircar interview: ‘Quit TMC because nobody was listening … had advised Mamata Banerjee to take some steps’

“I have suffered patiently for a month since the terrible incident at R G 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 the government is taking now are too little and quite late. I express my gratitude again for the opportunity you gave me … but I do not wish to continue as MP at all,” he writes in his resignation letter.

Sircar speaks to The Indian Express about his decision to quit the party, the road ahead, and other issues.

Excerpts:

What prompted you to resign from the TMC? You are also going to quit as Rajya Sabha MP.

It is a personal decision. I have served as an MP for three years. I think that is enough for me. They can give the seat to someone they like. On the handling of the R G Kar issue, I have very strong reservations.

What are the reservations?

As I said in my letter, the handling could have been much better.

The TMC has been defending the state government. We see party MPs regularly saying the Kolkata Police cracked the case but the CBI is not being able to find any new leads.

That is all political but I don’t want to be. I am not only quitting as an MP but I am quitting politics too. It is nice to get back to being a normal human being.

A normal human being?

I want to come back to society as a normal human being. I am not going to think politically. It (the Kolkata doctor rape-murder case) was not handled properly. There is a perception of power and corruption. I had advised her (Mamata Banerjee) to take some steps. We don’t want the BJP in West Bengal but don’t mess it up.

What was the CM’s response?

These are things which should remain private. We will keep it at that.

Did you discuss it with your TMC colleagues?

There is nothing to discuss with colleagues. I came alone and I am going alone.

Is there a sense of unease among your party colleagues as well, about the government’s handling of the R G Kar case?

I would not know. People are very cagey. But I think people have generally taken it well. I don’t want to embarrass her. She got me into politics. I don’t deserve to be. My point is that it calls for a large-scale immediate rectification. That is all. That rectification you (Mamata Banerjee) can do, not me.

What sort of rectification?

Course rectification, image rectification and the way of tackling it. The doctors, go and talk to them directly. Call them over. That sort of a thing.

The prolonged agitation is not helping the party and the government. Is it time to reach out to the protesters?

Yes, that is basically it. Reach out because while the CBI case and the demand for justice and everything goes one on one side, the other thing is that the city and the state are at a standstill. So I requested the CM to please talk to the doctors. That is all. I have said that only you can save the state. If you don’t do it…we don’t want the BJP to come. To that extent, I am political.

For that, did you have to resign from the party and the Rajya Sabha?

Nobody is listening.

Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, your colleague in the Rajya Sabha and the party, also openly expressed his views on the R G Kar case. Is there a sense of unease in the party?

I think so. But people don’t talk about these issues in any party. I had to take an extreme step to give a sort of jolt, if I may put it that way.

What are your plans?

Nothing. I belong to civil society. I do a lot of writing, I do a lot of commenting. I have seen everything for 41 years on this side — politics, student politics. I have my views on things and I express them. I also have problems with the Left Front. I want to be a free man. I am a free bird after a long time.

Are you planning to join some other party? Are there no options?

No, never. I don’t want to. Politics is not in my blood.