Kolkata: Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee on Monday made a public appeal to party workers, urging them to refrain from making negative remarks about members of the medical fraternity and civil society who are protesting against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
Banerjee’s comments came in the wake of the TMC suspending party leader and former councillor Atish Sarkar for his controversial remarks against the protesters and allegedly issuing threats. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Banerjee wrote, “Public representatives across party lines need to be more HUMBLE and SYMPATHETIC. I urge everyone in @AITCofficial not to speak ill of anyone from the MEDICAL FRATERNITY OR CIVIL SOCIETY.”
He further emphasized the importance of respecting the right to protest, contrasting West Bengal’s approach with that of BJP-ruled states.
“Everyone has the right to protest and express themselves. This is what sets West Bengal apart from other BJP-ruled states,” Banerjee stated, taking a subtle dig at the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh.
Banerjee also criticized the “bulldozer model” of politics, referring to the harsh tactics employed in some states.
His remarks followed the suspension of Atish Sarkar, who was caught on video allegedly threatening protesters demanding justice for the August 9 rape and murder of the trainee doctor. Sarkar’s comments, which included threats to defame the families of protesters, sparked outrage and led to his suspension from the party.
The TMC’s decision to suspend Sarkar was part of a broader effort to distance itself from inflammatory rhetoric, especially following recent controversial remarks by West Bengal Minister Udayan Guha, who had threatened to “break the fingers” of those criticizing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on social media.
Mamata Banerjee herself has faced significant backlash for her comments during the ongoing protests. Criticizing the BJP’s 12-hour ‘Bangla Bandh’ last week, she accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using the unrest to tarnish West Bengal’s image.
Her comparison of the protests to those in Bangladesh led to a complaint being filed against her by Supreme Court lawyer Vineet Jindal, who argued that her statements were inflammatory and could incite regional hatred.
Banerjee’s remarks and the subsequent actions by the TMC reflect the party’s efforts to navigate the growing unrest while maintaining a focus on restraint and sensitivity during a highly charged situation.
