The mother of the Kolkata trainee doctor, who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, on Monday slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of lying and alleged that compensation was offered to them.
Her reaction came after Banerjee, earlier in the day, dismissed allegations that the Kolkata Police tried to bribe the parents of the trainee doctor, and called the claims against her government ‘slander’.
“I have never offered money to the doctor’s family. This is nothing but slander. I only told the doctor’s parents that if they wished to do something in their daughter’s memory, our government would support them. Kolkata Commissioner of Police, Vineet Goyal, offered to resign following the RG Kar protests, but we need someone knowledgeable in law and order as Durga Puja approaches,” Banerjee said.
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Reacting to this statement, the victim’s mother told ANI, “The Chief Minister is lying. My daughter will not return. Would I lie in her name? The Chief Minister told us that we would receive money and suggested that we create something in our daughter’s memory. I responded that I would come to her office to collect the money once my daughter gets justice.”
The victim’s cousin also said that the Chief Minister offered financial compensation to the family. “The Chief Minister herself offered financial compensation. She denied that money was offered by the police. I’m still saying with responsibility that the Chief Minister offered money,” the cousin said, ANI reported.
CM Mamata Banerjee also encouraged people to “return to festivities” as Durga Puja nears and urged junior doctors to resume their duties as soon as possible. In response, the victim’s mother expressed that this request seemed inhuman to her.
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“It seems inhuman to me because I am the mother of a girl. I have lost a child, so I feel inhuman. If people from all over the country want to return for the (Durga Puja) festival, they can,” she said. “Durga Puja was celebrated in my house too. My daughter used to do it at home. But, now darkness has engulfed our lives. How can I tell people to celebrate the festival during this time,” she added.
She also questioned, “If such an incident had happened in the Chief Minister’s family, would she have said this?”
The victim’s mother also asserted that they would continue their movement until justice is served. She also alleged that Banerjee was trying to “strangle” the protests against the rape and murder of the trainee doctor, whose semi-naked body was found in RG Kar hospital on August 9.
Earlier, the victim’s father and aunt had alleged that the Kolkata Police attempted to cover up the case and offered them money to keep quiet.
(With inputs from ANI)