AS THE outrage over the rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s R G Kar Medical College and Hospital spreads, a protest called across West Bengal on Wednesday midnight over the incident found the ruling Trinamool Congress divided. While some leaders of the TMC such as Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy announced on social media that they would participate in the protest, others slammed it as “a political move to defame West Bengal, backed by the BJP and CPI(M)”. Announcing that he would join the ‘Reclaim the Night’ protest, Roy said he would do it “particularly because I've a daughter and a little granddaughter, like millions of Bengali families”. “Enough of cruelty against women. Let's resist together. Come what may,” he posted. Ananya Chakraborty, former chairperson of the West Bengal State Commission For Protection of Child Rights who is seen as close to the top TMC leadership, also backed the protest, sharing a call to join it on her social media account. Those who could not attend should show their support by blowing conch shells at their homes at midnight, Chakraborty said. Among those who slammed the protest and its invite urging women to gather in large numbers was TMC Dinhala MLA Udayan Guha. Slamming Guha’s remarks as “sexist”, the BJP’s West Bengal unit posted, “When the people of West Bengal are planning to hit the streets and blow conch shells to raise the Shakti within amidst the RG Kar rape and murder horror, Udayan Guha resorts to vulgar jokes! He trivializes domestic violence and asks not to seek help if subjected to torture at night." TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh also criticised the protests. “Supporters of incidents like Nandigram, Singur, Hathras and Manipur are doing a drama at night. Remember nights in Bengal have always been safe for women. Many mothers and sisters work in different professions at night,” Ghosh said, adding that the protesters were “actually doing politics”. TMC state spokesperson head of its Bengal IT cell Debangshu Bhattacharya backed the protest but asked those participating to beware of those joining them. "Congratulations to ‘Occupy night’ movement. Long live general women's protest. But alert, red (hyenas) are ready to hijack the protest. They want to make roti on the fire of this protest," Bhattacharya said. Earlier on Wednesday, some Left organisations held a protest rally of civil society activists over the rape and murder, which was also attended by many Congress leaders. The BJP held a separate demonstration at the West Bengal Assembly, seeking the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
