Kolkata, August 28, 2018 (China Daily/Reuters) – West Bengal, a state renowned for its political unpredictable nature, saw pandemonium emerge once again on Wednesday as dozens of protesters pushed to the streets. The brutal rape and murder of a 31 Year-old medical student in Kolkata caused demonstrations all through the nation and demands for justice.
In response to the tragedy, the state’s major opposition party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), called for a 12-hour state-wide strike. BJP workers and supporters created disruption to daily life throughout the strike by delaying buses, shutting down maintenance within the state, and hindering rail tracks. Chanting anti-governing Trinamool Congress (TMC) slogans, protesters have accused state authorities of failing to safeguard women and have demanded swift punishment against people who violate women.
The demonstration itself occurred the day after the police brutally broken apart an extensive march in Kolkata through the use of water cannons and tear gas to disperse the participants. The BJP maintained the strike in spite of these acts, indicating that it intended to continue pressure on the TMC management, which has been led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
A State in Grief and Anger
People throughout the state and nationwide are profoundly impacted by the August 9 tragedy. Thousands of medical professionals demonstrated in Kolkata’s streets, demanding additional security measures for healthcare workers as well as justice for their murdered colleague. Many of those doctors have been on strike since the crime became public. The medical profession has been particularly vociferous in its concerns for their safety following such a terrible murder at a government-run hospital—a setting where they have the responsibility to deliver care and save lives.
At a rally on Wednesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been facing increasing political pressure, expanded her genuine condolences for the victim and her family. “If the state government had the power to make laws, I would have made a law in seven days that would mandate capital punishment in incidents of rape,” she said, bemoaning the lack of authority the state carried to enact more severe penalties for crimes of this character. In addition to appealing for the striking medical professionals to return to work and emphasising the significance of their services to the healthcare system, Banerjee promised swift justice.
Source: Reuters
Political Tensions Boil Over
The segment provided the BJP, which has been seeking to cover additional ground in West Bengal, a chance to unleash a vicious assault on Banerjee’s government. The party has demanded Banerjee’s resignation, characterising her handling of the circumstances as utterly inadequate, and has accused the state administration of being unaware of women’s safety.
The walkout, in which several BJP workers and supporters take part, is an aspect of an overall strategy to stir up popular hostility against the TMC. However, here are additionally concerns about developing unrest and violence as a consequence of the strike. Five thousand police officers have been sent within the state by the authorities to maintain the calm and avoid conflicts. Tensions remain high in spite of these phases, and as events advance, they could be further problems.
National Outrage
Outrage has been created by the event not only in West Bengal but throughout India. Due to the seriousness of the crime, it has been likened to the infamous Delhi gang rape in 2012, which prompted massive protests and led to stronger laws against sex assault. At her initial remarks in public on the issue, Indian President Droupadi Murmu emphasised her disbelief and dismay, stating, “No civilised society can allow daughters and sisters to be subjected to such atrocities.” Similar to the views of many within the country, she called for swift action to make sure that comparable acts will never occur again.
Campaigners argue that assault on women continues to be an ongoing issue in India, even with the stringent laws enacted in the months following the 2012 tragedy, and that the legal and judicial systems regularly fail to deliver swift reparation. These systemic issues have been highlighted once more by the case of the murdered doctor, who sparked calls for not just more stringent laws but also improved victim support and enforcement.
Source: Source: Dawn
Conclusion
West Bengal is still strained as the state confronts the effects of this awful incident. The prevalent protests and the BJP’s strike have highlighted the extensive dissatisfaction and deep-seated dissatisfaction that many individuals feel—not only towards the state management but also towards the wider societal and fundamental issues that permit these crimes to occur.
The course of study that unfolds in this case will be crucial in the days in advance when it comes to the possibility of legal action against the accused in addition to the political repercussions for Mamata Banerjee’s government. The conference call for justice grows more and more apparent as demonstrations carry on, reverberating across Kolkata’s streets and beyond.
