Justice for RG Kar: The Battle for Gender Justice Intensifies in West Bengal

As the battle for justice in the RG Kar Medical college rape and murder incident intensifies, the state of West Bengal is witnessing continuous mobilisations and protests. On September 2, 2024, a citizen's march was organised from Moulali to Dharmatala, in which hundreds of people joined calling for gender justice. CPIML General Secretary Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya, along with several leaders and activists from students-youth, working class and women organisations, Queer and LGBTQIA+ movements and civil society groups participated in the march.

Addressing the protest meeting, as the march was stopped at Kolkata Corporation by police, Comrade Dipankar congratulated the people of West Bengal, especially the activists of women’s movement for Reclaim the Night, Win the Day movement to ensure freedom from fear and women’s liberation.

Calling for swift conviction of perpetrator in RG Kar medical college rape and murder case, he noted that while the Supreme court has raised the issue of working condition of doctors, especially female doctors, there needs to comprehensive structural changes to ensure end to sexual violence and exploitation in all the industries, and organised and unorganised sectors. The 2012 Nirbhaya, like the Justice for RG Kar movement has exposed the deep-rooted patriarchy and rape culture that prevail and these must be put to an end to ensure gender justice. The questions of women’s freedom, equality and autonomy, gender justice, women’s rights and access to public places are very much linked to democracy and people of West Bengal are ready to take forward this struggle.

He also criticised the under-funded and under-staffed public health institutions across the country and demanded increased public health expenditure. Furthermore, Comrade Dipankar noted that the mafia-syndicate-corruption system in hospitals must be overthrown. He condemned that attitude of the TMC government for completely failing to ensure accountability in the incident. He also condemned threatening statements from some TMC leaders against the doctor’s protest for justice in the RG Kar medical college case.

The Junior doctors are staging a sit-in near Lalbazar demanding resignation of the Police Commissioner for the failure of the police in stopping the vandalisation of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on the night of 14 August. Meanwhile on September 2, the CBI has arrested former RG Kar Medical College Principal Sandeep Ghosh on charges of financial irregularities.

“While people of West Bengal are united in their struggle for justice and women’s freedom, we see fascist forces like BJP attempting to strike a divide to break the movement for gender justice. People of West Bengal are aware of BJP’s nefarious designs and they will dismantle it” added Comrade Dipankar.

AISA activist Varsha, one of the coordinators of Reclaim The Night movement said that today, #JusticeForRGKar slogan is reverberating from villages to cities and have become the clarion call to gender justice across the country. Protests are happening across the country. The Reclaim the Night movement will continue to intensifying and this manifestation not only represents the issue of justice for women, but also includes the question of rights of Queer and LGBTQIA+ communities.

Mental Health activist Ratnaboli Ray calling for a fast-track trial in issues of violence against women explained why capital punishment is never the answer to end crimes against women. She noted that comprehensive policy and structural changes are required to ensure gender justice.

The protest also condemned the mob-lynching of Sabir Malik, a migrant worker from West Bengal, who was beaten to death by a gang of cow vigilantes in Haryana’s Charkhi Dadri. Social activist Nausheen Baba Khan said that there is an increasing attack on Muslims across the country and people need to unite against this ploy to divide India in the name of religion.

Several mobilisations and protest programs are being organised across the state calling for justice. As part of the ongoing #justiceforRGKar movement, young cultural activists with their diverse cultural expressions organised a nightlong event on 01 September 2024 at Naihati in North 24 Parganas District.