Kolkata doctor rape-murder: Priyanka Gandhi questions govt about women’s safety

New Delhi [India], August 16 (ANI): Reacting sharply to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar hospital in Kolkata, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday said that when government statistics is itself showing 86 rape cases a day then from whom women should expect protection.

Furthermore, Vadra stated that women across the country are in grief and anger and whenever there is a need to send a strong message about the safety of women, efforts are made to save the accused.

Taking it to a social media post on X, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wrote, “The cruelties against women in Kolkata, Bihar, Uttarakhand and UP have shaken the entire country. At this time, women across the country are in grief and anger.”

She further said that whenever such incidents happen women look towards the government’s action and measures but political protection to the accused and granting bail/parole to convicted prisoners discourage them.

The tweet added, “Whenever such incidents happen, the women of the country see what the governments are doing. How serious are their words and measures? Wherever there was a need to send a strong message about the safety of women, efforts were made to save the accused. Repeated leniency in cases of heinous atrocities on women, political protection to the accused and actions like granting bail/parole to convicted prisoners discourage women.”

“What message does this send to the women of the country? When government statistics show 86 rapes taking place every day, from whom should women expect protection?” it added.

Meanwhile, doctors from all over India are staging protests amid the nationwide uproar in this case.

Doctors and medical students of the AIIMS Delhi earlier demanded a Central Protection Act for healthcare workers. AIIMS Delhi doctor Kumar Kartikay said that they will not step back till they get an assurance that action will be taken in the matter.

Medical professionals at Chandigarh PGIMER also continued their demonstration on Friday. The doctors have stated that the protest will continue till justice is delivered.

The Resident Doctors Association, Government Medical College in Amritsar, Punjab has announced the suspension of all non-essential and elective hospital services, including Out Patient Departments, operating theatres and wards, beginning on August 16 and continuing until further notice.

A post-graduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and killed in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. The CBI has taken over the case and an investigation into the matter is underway. The opposition BJP has accused the ruling TMC of a “cover-up” in the matter.