TMC women MLAs admit: ‘Something has gone wrong… police should have done duty’

* Police should have done duty.

* Something has obviously gone wrong.

* We should have hit the streets long ago.

These are some of the women MLAs of the ruling Trinamool Congress speaking on the aftermath of the RG Kar rape and murder of the doctor in West Bengal — breaking their silence to acknowledge how the TMC government could have responded more effectively to the incident.

As Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee apologised and reached out to the doctors, The Indian Express spoke to all 35 of her woman MLAs to get a sense of how this was playing out within the party, especially after the resignation of MP Jawhar Sircar on September 8.

While all the MLAs stood behind Banerjee, 17 shared their views, at least 10 declined to comment. Many urged the doctors to call off their protest but the overriding refrain was that public anger was legitimate.

The MLAs who spoke:

Rekha Roy, Kushmandi MLA
“There is obviously anger on the streets and in the minds of the people, especially women. It’s also true the Opposition is trying to get political mileage out of the anger…It is true that the police should have done their duty… The party and government’s image is being tarnished.”

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after the meeting with the doctors at her residence in Kolkata on Monday. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

Sahina Momtaz Khan, Naoda MLA
“Not everything is reaching Didi’s ears…Earlier, if there was an accident, she would rush to the spot, make sure everything was being handled properly. This didn’t happen…we are all with Didi. I am personally not satisfied with the role played by the police. This is 2024. Will women not go to work? Women in my area are angry and I share their anger.”

Sabina YEasmin, Mothabari MLA
“It’s horrific. It’s obvious people, particularly women and girls, are angry. I support the protests. We should have hit the streets long ago – not only in the state but nationally – over crimes against women, including in Unnao and Hathras. I will say that some (police) officers should have been punished long ago. It’s true that there’s corruption. But do you think corruption will end if Mamata Banerjee left?”

Mamata Bhunia, Daspur MLA
“In my rural constituency, protesters gheraoed a police station. We held rallies in two blocks demanding capital punishment for the culprits… We are reaching out to the people, the women, telling them that Mamata Banerjee has brought in the Aparajita Bill (for crimes against women).”

Shampa Dhara, Raina MLA
“What started as a spontaneous protest is being taken over by the Opposition. However, it’s shameful and horrific. We’ve done rallies and public meetings in the two blocks in my constituency according to the party’s instructions. However, everyone has to accept that the Kolkata Police’s (handling of the situation) was wrong. They should have been transparent.”

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after the meeting with the doctors at her residence in Kolkata on Monday. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

Supti Pandey, Maniktala MLA
Kolkata has never seen such protests before, an immense restlessness among people. People also understand the issue is being unnecessarily prolonged…The CM from Day One wanted justice but something has obviously gone wrong. Someone somewhere has bungled. (Ex-RG Kar principal) Sandip Ghosh and people like him are not very good examples.”

Usha Rani Mondal, Minakhan MLA
The victim was educated, qualified…Could anyone have imagined such a thing? The incident has sent shockwaves throughout Bengal. Didi herself demanded capital punishment. It’s not just a Kolkata issue. This incident has deeply impacted my constituency, people are shocked and scared. It’s important) to acknowledge that the party allowed citizens to express their anger unlike during the Left regime.”

Manju Basu, Noapara MLA
“Extremely disturbing and unfortunate. Days have passed but nothing concrete has come up in the investigation. We all want to see justice served and those involved to be punished.”

Chandana Sarkar, Baisnabnagar MLA
“Mine is a rural area where people have less time to take out candle marches. But this incident has affected everyone across the state…Didi has been sensitive…(women) MLAs are facing an awkward situation”.

Asima Patra, Dhaniakhali MLA
“This is a heinous crime, everyone wants justice for the victim…There were protests initially but now people have moved on (in my constituency).”

Nandita Chowdhury, Howrah Dakshin MLA
“I was once a member of the West Bengal Commission for Women. I know what crimes are committed against women and how. Some we could help, others we could not…One person alone cannot change anything. Everyone should act together to change the situation…,” she said, adding there was a ”lacuna” in the administration’s response.

Firdousi Begum, Sonarpur Uttar MLA
“Those protesting are from the CPI(M) or the BJP. The general public loves Didi and is listening to what she is saying. The state government has done what needed to be done.”

Sabitri Mitra, Manikchak MLA
“It’s tragic and unacceptable. In our area, those who are protesting are apolitical and doing it from their heart. The CBI must answer why its investigation isn’t progressing. We are worried about the doctors’ agitation because in my constituency, a majority are poor and government hospitals are their only choice.”

Nayna Bandyopadhyay, Bowbazar MLA
“The RG Kar incident is shameful. The CM did whatever needed to be done. We all demanded capital punishment for those responsible. Doctors should now return to work.”

Seuli Saha, Keshpur MLA
“My husband and son are doctors and I can say this much — their work is to serve people. They should do that first and then protest,” she said.

Swati Khondker, Chanditala MLA
“The doctors should now return to work. As a mother and an MLA, I can say that when the CM herself is seeking justice and looking into the matter with sensitivity, there’s no need for such widespread protests.”

Priya Paul, Sankrail MLA
“My constituency is a mix of urban and rural areas. There have been protests in urban areas, but in villages, there has been little impact. “

As many as 17 other MLAs The Indian Express contacted declined to comment.

Sainthia MLA Nilabati Saha said she can’t comment since she is “outside Bengal for the treatment of a family member”, while Rajarhat Gopalpur MLA Aditi Munshi’s husband Debraj Chakraborty, also a TMC leader, said she is unwell.

Some MLAs told The Indian Express, on the condition of anonymity, that the incident has dented the party’s reputation. One leader said there were “blunders” on the part of the state government.

Said an MLA from Kolkata: “The first blunder was transferring Sandip Ghosh from RG Kar after he resigned and placing him in National Medical College. What the Kolkata police commissioner said on the night of August 14 (after protesters were assaulted at RG Kar) also hurt the party and the government.”

Another MLA from North Bengal said that while people trust “trust Mamata Banerjee, dadagiri by some leaders is affecting public perception about her and the party”.