Doctor's rape and murder case in Kolkata: Jawhar Sircar quits TMC MP post and also resigns from Rajya Sabha

Rape and murder case of a doctor in Calcutta: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP and former IAS Jawhar Sircar resigned from his post in Parliament on September 8 and announced his retirement from politics.

In his resignation letter to TMC leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Sircar said he was retiring from politics over the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

Sircar said he was resigning from his post as a member of the Upper House due to the alleged rape and murder in RG Kar and the related corruption in the hospital.

“Together against local politics”

In the letter, Sircar said his “main aim” of becoming an MP was to “continue the fight against the autocratic and communalist policies of the BJP and its Prime Minister”, adding that he felt some satisfaction in achieving this goal.

“…my numerous appearances in Parliament, available on YouTube or in the archives of Sansad TV, will prove how hard and effectively I fought against the authoritarian, divisive, discriminatory and anti-federal policies of the Modi regime,” he added.

On the rape case of a doctor in Calcutta

Sircar further said that the current “outburst of public anger against this unbridled, arrogant attitude of a select few and corrupt people” was spontaneous and something he had never experienced before.

“I have been suffering patiently for a month since the horrific incident at RG Kar Hospital, hoping for your direct intervention against the agitating junior doctors, in the old Mamata Banerjee style. That has not happened and whatever punitive action the government is taking now is too little and too late,” he said.

“I believe that the protests are largely apolitical and spontaneous and that it is not right to take a confrontational stance by calling them political,” he added.

Sircar accused the opposition parties of “fishing in troubled waters”, but added that it was the youth and common people who were protesting on the streets every day. “They don't want politics: they want justice and punishment. Let us analyse openly and realise that the movement is as much for Abhaya as it is against the state government and the party. This requires an immediate course correction, otherwise the communal forces will take over this state,” he added.

On resignation

Sircar said he did not want to continue as an MP and said, “My commitment to fighting corruption, communalism and authoritarianism at the Centre and in the states is simply non-negotiable. I will soon go to Delhi and tender my resignation to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and also completely distance myself from politics.”

He pleaded with Banerjee: “Please do something to save the state.”

“Shocked” by corruption in TMC leadership

In his resignation, Sircar cited corruption within the TMC and said he was “shocked”. He added that he was “increasingly disillusioned” as the West Bengal state government seemed “unconcerned about the corruption and the increasing tough tactics of a section of politicians”.

While acknowledging that politicians from other parties and other states have also amassed far greater wealth, Sircar said, “West Bengal cannot tolerate this extravagant corruption and dominance.”

Reactions to Sircar’s resignation

Speaking to ANI on the matter, TMC's Kunal Ghosh said the move was Sircar's personal decision.

“…Currently, we are working like soldiers under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, but that doesn't mean I am criticising Jawhar Sircar's personal principles, it is not like that, it is his decision, he can take it. We condemn this incident (rape and murder at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital), people are angry about it and they are misunderstanding the administration. In such a situation, as soldiers of the party, we have to try to explain to people that we will follow our soldier's role. When Jawhar Sircar takes a decision, he is a very senior and wise person, he has different principles, our top leadership will take them into consideration. We cannot say anything about it,” Ghosh said.

Speaking to ANI on Sircar's resignation, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said Banerjee should resign.

“If anyone should resign, it should be West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee… The TMC government and Mamata Banerjee have institutionalised corruption and in his letter he wrote that every time he raised the issue of corruption he was silenced… Mamata Banerjee tried to destroy the evidence and save the accused…” he stated.