The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal has suspended former councillor Atish Sarkar for a year after a video surfaced showing him threatening those protesting the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The incident has intensified the ongoing unrest in the state. In a post on X, Kunal Ghosh announced the decision stating, “The party condemns the inappropriate comments made by the party leader from Ashoknagar Kalyangarh Municipality area regarding the photos of protesting mothers and sisters. He has been identified and the party has decided to suspend him for one year.”
In the video, Sarkar, identified as a Trinamool leader from Ashoknagar in North 24 Parganas, was seen addressing an event where he warned those criticising West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, popularly known as “Didi.” He stated, “Didi has instructed us to hiss… Those of you who are abusing Didi, engaging in her character assassination, if we make obscene posters of your mothers and sisters and put them on your walls, you won’t be able to remove them. That day is going to come soon”, as per The Telegraph.
While the entire nation and West Bengal are demanding justice for R.G.’s sexual harassment and condemning government failures, TMC leaders are unleashing vile threats.
TMC goons, emboldened by Mamata Banerjee’s call to ‘create chaos,’ are now threatening to deface homes with… pic.twitter.com/pjWUWWdvWG
— BJP West Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) September 1, 2024
The protests, which have continued for over three weeks, were sparked by public outrage over the brutal rape and murder, compounded by the perceived lack of progress in the investigation and the state government’s harsh response to demonstrators. The protests gained further momentum on Sunday night when members of the Bengali television and film industry joined the residents of Calcutta in a night-long sit-in at the city’s heart.
According to The Telegraph’s report, Sarkar further warned the protesters, saying, “If we start hissing at every locality in the mornings and evenings, will you be able to step out of your homes?”
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CM Mamata Banerjee Asks TMC Workers To ‘Hiss’ At Those Defaming Bengal
The controversial remarks came in the wake of a speech by Mamata Banerjee during the foundation day of Trinamool’s student wing, where she instructed party workers to “hiss” at those defaming Bengal. “If I lose my patience, you have no idea what I can do. I have never been vengeful. I gave the slogan ‘we want change, not revenge.’ I am saying today drop that slogan. Whatever has to be done, you [Trinamool members] will have to do. I don’t want any violence, but you can hiss to unmask those conspiring [against Bengal],” Banerjee had said at the event on Mayo Road, as quoted by the report.
However, Banerjee later clarified that her remarks were directed towards the BJP and not doctors or protesters, stating that a “malicious campaign” was underway against her government. She added that the “hissing” reference was a saying of Ramakrishna Paramhansa.
BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari Slams Canning MLA’s ‘Viral’ Audio Clip
Despite the clarification, the actions of Trinamool leaders continue to raise concerns. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari shared a purported audio clip on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, alleging that Trinamool’s Canning MLA had threatened local residents planning to organise a “Reclaim the Night” protest in South 24-Parganas on Wednesday night.
Dear Doctor fraternity,
You have announced various events in the coming week and have urged the common citizens, to protest against the injustice done to the RG Kar PGT Lady Doctor.You have made an appeal to the people to turn off the lights of their house from 9 pm to 10 pm on… pic.twitter.com/sPlaiAUolX
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) September 1, 2024
In the audio clip, a voice purportedly instructs Trinamool leaders to prevent young women and men from participating in the protest, warning that any party worker or leader’s relative found joining the movement would face immediate suspension. “The CPM, Congress, and BJP have hatched a conspiracy once again to spread canards against our party,” the voice is heard saying.
This incident is not isolated. Previously, Trinamool leaders have issued threats against doctors, students, and others demanding safer work environments at state-run medical institutions. Udayan Guha, the North Bengal Development Minister, had threatened to “break the hands” of those who criticised the Chief Minister, as per the report.
Adhikari, in his social media post, criticised Trinamool, stating, “MLA Paresh Das is no fringe element; he is what TMC stands for – violence, threats, obstructionism, intimidation, coercion, etc.” He added that Mamata Banerjee “enjoys her power through such elements,” listing other party members implicated in similar controversies. Adhikari concluded, “Bengal will only recover once Mamata Banerjee resigns. Till then, there is no hope.”
Adhikari’s post came a day before the special session of the Bengal Legislative Assembly, set to convene today, where a law to expedite investigations, trials, and capital punishment for rapists is expected to be passed.
On the same day, minister Udayan Guha, speaking at a party event in his Dinhata constituency, said, “If they bite us once, we have to retaliate with five bites,” The Telegraph reported.
