Sukhendu Sekhar Ray is Rajya Sabha MP from Trinamool Congress
Senior Trinamool Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray has said he will join the midnight protest over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The veteran leader announced his decision on X. "Tomorrow I am going to join the protesters particularly because I've a daughter and little granddaughter like millions of Bengali families. We must rise to the occasion. Enough of cruelty against women. Let's resist together. Come what may," he said in a post late last night.
When a 'X' user said the senior leader may be thrown out of Trinamool Congress for joining a protest against his own government, he responded, "Please need not worry for my fate. Blood of a freedom fighter flows in my veins. I'm least bothered."
The 75-year-old has been a member of the Upper House of Parliament since 2011 and has also served as Deputy Leader of the Trinamool Congress in the House.
In a statement issued later, Mr Ray said that most people had supported his stand. "However, the Chief of BJP IT Cell raised doubts and characterised my move as politically motivated," he said. The Trinamool MP was referring to a post by BJP leader Amit Malviya, who had alleged that the Trinamool is trying to co-opt protesters and compromise the agitation.
"Aparna Sen, now Sukhendu. Mamata Banerjee's old strategy. Co-opt protesters and compromise protest. Those seeking justice for the RG Kar MCH rape and murder victim shouldn't let any Trinamool leader even come close. They are snakes," Mr Malviya said.
In response, Mr Ray has said, "While I denounce such character assassination which is otherwise a normal phenomenon for BJP IT Cell, I am going to stage an individual dharna today in front of Netaji Statue at Jodhpur Park, Kolkata from 5-8 pm in protest against the barbaric incident of heinous crime perpetrated recently upon a Lady Doctor of RG KAR Medical College and to express my solidarity with the millions of protesters who will be on the streets tonight."
"My stand has nothing to do with the party to which I belong, not to speak of any politics," he said.
"I get inspiration from great freedom fighter Ajoy Mukherjee who staged an individual Dharna at Curzon Park (now Surendranath Park), Kolkata against his own government headed by him as Chief Minister on 1st December 1969, describing it 'a savage and barbaric government'," the Trinamool leader added.
Women in Kolkata and other parts of Bengal will take to the streets late tonight as part of a massive protest against the doctor's rape and murder at the state-run hospital. The protest, which will begin at 11.55 pm, has been described as, "For women's independence on the midnight of independence".
Posters sharing locations of the protest are being shared on social media, with new spots being added as more and more people across the state suburbs join it. Men have also decided to join the protest in large numbers to show their solidarity with the cause. Several prominent figures, including actor Swastika Mukherjee, actor Churni Ganguly and filmmaker Pratim D Gupta, have called upon people to join the midnight gathering at locations most convenient to them.
Kolkata has been shaken by the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at the state-run hospital while she was on night duty. The doctor was found dead on Friday morning in a seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in the northern part of the city. She had injuries on her eyes, face, mouth, neck, limbs and private parts.
Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer who frequented the hospital, has been arrested in connection with the case.
The Calcutta High Court yesterday ordered that investigation into the case be transferred to the CBI. The court noted that there were serious lapses on the part of the hospital administration and flagged the possibility that evidence may be destroyed. "Even after five days there have been no significant conclusions which should have happened by now. Therefore, we are justified that there is every possibility that evidence will be destroyed. We deem it appropriate that the case must be transferred to CBI with immediate effect," it said.