'Had higher hopes for you': Swati Maliwal writes to Mamata Banerjee over Kolkata rape and murder case

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Thursday wrote to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and expressed her outrage over multiple issues related to the handling of the alleged rape and murder case at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
The former Delhi commission for Women chief said, "Didi, as the only woman chief minister in the country, many of us had higher hopes for you.You have been lauded for fielding a higher number of women candidates in elections, with several women now holding seats as Members of Parliament."
"Yet, in this case, the actions of your government, from the disturbing attempts to cover up this heinous crime to the rewarding of those involved in the negligence, and the silence from your party, have revealed a sickening politicization of rape. This is a dangerous trend for Indian democracy. Similar failures in handling cases of sexual violence have been witnessed in West Bengal before, and your government’s repeated silence and deflections continue to raise serious concerns," she added.

Expressing her 'profound sense of despair' over the incident, Maliwal said that such acts of violence overshadow the celebration of freedom and justice.
"Today, as our great nation celebrates Independence Day, a day meant to symbolize freedom, justice, and equality for all, I find myself grappling with a profound sense of despair. How can we truly celebrate when the very fabric of our society is torn by such unspeakable acts of brutality? How can we rejoice in our independence when the women of our country are not free from the fear of rape and murder? This horrific crime casts a dark shadow over our celebrations," the letter read.
Maliwal also urged West Bengal CM to make women protection its utmost priority.
"Most importantly, I urge you to make protecting the women of West Bengal and this country your utmost priority. The eyes of the nation are upon you, and history will remember how you respond to this moment of crisis," She further said.
This comes after body of the woman post-graduate trainee was discovered inside a seminar hall at the hospital on the morning of August 9. A civic volunteer was arrested on Saturday in connection with the crime.
Junior doctors across West Bengal continued their ceasework on Wednesday, the sixth consecutive day, protesting the alleged rape and murder of the woman doctor at the state-run medical college and hospital and demanding justice.
The ongoing protest has disrupted healthcare services, leading to long queues at outpatient departments (OPDs) of all government hospitals. The agitating junior doctors are also calling for a magisterial probe into the woman's death and the removal of senior officials from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.