KOLKATA: In a dramatic turn of events, TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy has found himself at the center of a political storm in West Bengal following his outspoken stance on the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at a state-run hospital. Despite deleting a controversial social media post to avoid further confrontation with his party’s government, Roy remains steadfast in his support for what he calls a “spontaneous mass upheaval” against the horrific crime.
Roy’s decision to back the public outcry, even if it puts his party of 13 years in a difficult position, underscores the gravity of the situation. “In my entire 56 years of political life, I have never witnessed such a spontaneous upheaval of the common masses. They didn’t bother for a political flag to unite and hit the streets in protest in the middle of the night with a common agenda: justice for the victim and punishment for the perpetrator,” Roy told PTI.
The veteran politician’s statements highlight the depth of anger and frustration that the incident has sparked among the people. “My conscience was jolted. I can’t bury my head in sand like an ostrich and pretend all is fine simply because my party thinks otherwise. I am, after all, father to a motherless daughter and grandfather to a granddaughter. My family, too, can get singed someday by such horrors in society. Who will save me then?” Roy added.
Roy’s actions have not been without consequence. On Tuesday, he removed a post from his X (formerly Twitter) handle, where he demanded “custodial interrogation” of former RG Kar Medical College principal Sandip Ghosh and Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal for their alleged mishandling of the case. The now-deleted post had already garnered 1.29 lakh views before it was taken down.
The TMC MP’s decision to delete the post came after he was slapped with two back-to-back appearance notices by the Kolkata Police for “spreading rumours” on social media. In response, Roy moved the Calcutta High Court, seeking protection. During the court hearing, both sides reached a settlement, with the court observing that it would pass an order on Wednesday after Roy deleted the social media post and the state submitted a report stating that no further action would be taken against him.
Reflecting on the situation, Roy revealed, “Moving court was an afterthought. I was initially getting ready for the police to come home and arrest me.” He refrained from commenting further on the matter, citing the ongoing legal proceedings. However, Roy emphasized that all his other posts regarding the RG Kar Hospital incident remained online.
Roy’s first post on August 13, made shortly after the Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation from the Kolkata Police to the CBI, had stirred significant attention. In it, he stated, “Gangrape and merciless murder happened in RG Kar Hospital. Who are they? Now CBI to investigate. Well. I’ve no faith in CBI. They are nincompoop. Yet the truth is to be unravelled. Why there are attempts to shield the beasts? Whosoever is responsible for the crime must be hanged.”
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His subsequent post, where he expressed solidarity with the protesters, drew widespread media attention. “Tomorrow I am going to join the protesters particularly because I have 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,” Roy wrote.
On August 14, Roy participated in a midnight sit-in near his south Kolkata residence, joining citizens in demanding justice for the RG Kar victim. His actions were seen as being at odds with the official stance of the TMC, which sought to downplay the protests. He later wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah, urging the promulgation of stringent central legislation to ensure the safety of women at workplaces and institutions.
Roy’s defiance continued when he took to X again on August 18 to protest the detention of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal supporters who had united outside the Salt Lake Stadium to protest the cancellation of the Durand Cup derby match. “I appeal to all football and sports lovers to protest unitedly against the arbitrary arrests of supporters of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal in a peaceful and democratic manner,” Roy wrote.
Reflecting on the public response to the RG Kar Hospital incident, Roy noted, “What struck me is how a doctors’ agitation so quickly became a mass uprising against affairs in the state. There was no political banner involved in this. It was a people’s upheaval through and through. And they cried for justice.”
Roy welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to take suo motu cognizance of the incident and to form a National Task Force to establish protocols for such cases. Despite the pressure from his party and the state government, Roy’s determination to stand with the people’s protest reflects a deep commitment to justice that transcends political loyalty. “I will support them from afar, if they refuse to accept me as one of them,” he concluded, signaling his resolve to continue advocating for the cause, even if it means distancing himself from his party.
