Asha Devi, mother of Nirbhaya, the victim of the 2012 Delhi gang rape, has called for the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. This demand follows the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. The incident has sparked widespread protests among the medical community, both in Kolkata and across the country, with many demanding justice for the victim.
In an interview with PTI, Asha Devi criticised Banerjee for “failing” to manage the situation effectively and accused her of attempting to divert public attention by leading rallies. Banerjee had recently participated in a rally calling for the death penalty for those responsible for the heinous crime.
“Instead of using her authority to take action against the culprits, Mamata Banerjee is trying to mislead the public,” Asha Devi stated. She further emphasised that as a woman and the head of the state, Banerjee should have taken stricter measures. “She should resign because she has failed to handle the situation,” Devi added.
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Asha Devi also expressed concern over the safety of women in India, urging both central and state governments to ensure swift punishment for rapists. She warned that without serious efforts to address such crimes, similar acts of brutality would continue to occur nationwide.
“When girls are not safe in Kolkata’s medical college and such barbarity is committed against them, then one can understand the state of women’s safety in the country,” she remarked to PTI.
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