ON September 3, the Left Front organised a large march in Kolkata to demand justice and punishment for those involved in the RG Kar case. The protest was against corruption in healthcare and called for the resignation of the police and health minister.

Led by Left Front chairman Biman Basu, CPI(M) state secretary Mohammad Salim, Polit Bureau member Surya Mishra, and Central Committee member Sujan Chakraborty, the massive march started at Rajabazar Tram Depot and headed toward RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The streets filled with voices demanding justice as people joined in from shops, markets, and balconies. Even though police set up barricades at Maniktala, the determined crowd pushed forward, overcoming the barriers.

Although they were unable to reach RG Kar Hospital, the Left Front leaders held a powerful protest meeting at Shyambazar, blocking the busy intersection. Youth movement leaders stayed in Shyambazar, showing their unwavering commitment to the cause late into the night.

The rally ended with Salim’s speech urging the people to fught till the guilty are punished and justice is served. He added that whether in the assembly or parliament, those who protect criminals can no longer delay justice, and we are here to achieve it.

The protest also demanded the removal of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal. Youth leader Meenakshi expressed the anger highlighting the lack of justice in several rape cases, including Kamduni, Madhyamgram, and Hanskhali. She criticised the police commissioner for following the orders of the police minister and called for the minister's resignation.

Md Salim said that their fight was not against the police as a whole, but against those who suppressed evidence. He condemned the chief minister's efforts to manipulate the law in the assembly. He praised the unwavering spirit of the protesters, recognising their tireless dedication to the cause.

MARCH TO LALBAZAR

On September 9, Dharmatala in Kolkata became a centre of protest as the CPI(M) launched a campaign at the Lalbazar Police Headquarters. Police set up barricades to block the march, but the activists and supporters found an alternate route to reach the Kolkata Police headquarters. Their goal was to put up posters demanding the removal of Police Commissioner Vineet Goel.

The police responded by arresting 14 peoples, who were later released. Undeterred, the CPI(M) issued a strong warning asking Vineet Goel to resign.

The march began at Dharmatala and made its way along Chittaranjan Avenue and Ganesh Avenue before being stopped by a large police barricade on Bentinck Street. A defiant protest meeting took place at the matador-stage, where a letter from CPI(M) Kolkata district committee secretary Kallol Majumdar was read aloud, demanding Goel's removal and legal action against him.

The news of the 14 arrests reached the crowd, strengthening their determination. CPI(M) workers and supporters stood firm in front of the barricade, loudly demanding the release of their comrades.

As announced earlier, the Left Front held a two-day protest at the Lalbazar Police Headquarters on September 13-14, demanding the resignation of Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal. The protest, called the ‘Lalbazar Abhiyan,’ started in the Boubazar area of central Kolkata on September 13th afternoon. Before the march, they paid tribute to the late CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury.

The Left Front chairman stated that they would sit in wherever the police blocked their way, expressing anger over the chief minister's lack of action against Goyal. "We demand his immediate removal," he said. In response to the protest, authorities set up iron barricades and prepared tear gas and water cannons.

Undeterred, Left Front supporters covered the barricades with banners and chanted for the commissioner's resignation. They began a sit-in at the police barricade on Fierce Lane. Biman Bose, emphasized their commitment to a 30-hour protest filled with meetings and songs.

PEOPLE’S PROTESTS

Kolkata and much of West Bengal are currently experiencing widespread protests as people from all backgrounds have come together to demand justice for the young woman doctor who was brutally raped and murdered at RG Kar Hospital. The city has seen a surge in demonstrations, with former students from various schools organising marches and rallies.

On August 29, a large rally was held by the citizens' group ‘Pather Dabi’ (The Right of Way), which attracted many well-known musicians, theater artists, actors, athletes, and writers, all expressing their outrage. Just a month after the tragic death of Abhaya, the state witnessed another significant protest event.

On September 1, another civic march took place in Kolkata to protest the horrific rape and murder. The march started at College Street at 3 PM and ended in Dharmatala, organised by a group called 'Amra Tilottama.' Thousands of people came together to demand justice, chanting: "One point, one demand, all the culprits should be punished!"

Alongside ordinary citizens, many well-known figures joined the march. Their participation highlighted the city's strong determination and created a powerful sense of unity against crime.

On September 9 at 9 pm, ‘Pather Dabi’ and several other community groups organised a 9-minute blackout. People across the state were asked to turn off their lights, stop their activities, and participate in a silent protest. At the same time, various protest events took place from 8 to 9 pm in different locations, receiving a strong response from the public.

Alarmed by the rising protests, Mamata Banerjee's party, with police support, began targeting activists. They increased surveillance on social media, which led to the arrest of Rupsa Mondal, a college student who had been critical of the government's response to the RG Kar case. Mondal was arrested on September 11, which sparked more protests from students and alumni demanding her release. Despite the police's resistance, she was granted bail four days later, showing the strong determination of the people's movement.

JUNIOR DOCTORS’

MOVEMENT

In a powerful show of unity, junior doctors across West Bengal are demanding justice for Abhaya. This group, made up of junior doctors from 28 state-run medical colleges, began a strong protest on September 10 at Swasthya Bhavan, the state health department headquarters. They presented five key demands:

1. Quick identification and punishment of everyone involved in the crime at RG Kar Medical College.
2. Prosecution of those who tampered with evidence.
3. Resignation of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal for his failures.
4. Improved safety measures for healthcare workers in all medical facilities.
5. Creation of a safe and democratic environment in medical institutions.

Additionally, they are also calling for the resignation of the state's health secretary, the director of health (DHS), and the director of health education (DME).

Stirred by the discovery of their colleague's body on August 9, these junior doctors have been actively pursuing justice. They took to the streets, replacing their stethoscopes with protest signs and shifting their focus from healing to demanding accountability. Despite the government's requests for them to return to work, these medical professionals remain firm in their protest, showing their commitment to the cause through their absence from hospitals.

The junior doctors, firm in their demands, insisted on a live-streamed meeting with the chief minister, who had only been providing small proposals. After a failed meeting in Nabanna, where the government offered just to record the discussion, the chief minister, pressured by the doctors' determination and public support, showed up at their protest to speak with them. However, at her residence, they were only given meeting minutes and no live stream or video recording.

The next day, called in again, they saw the chief minister announce the transfer of all officials except the health secretary due to public pressure. Still, since their demands remain unmet, the junior doctors continue to stand strong in their protest.

Right now, the situation in the state feels like a conflict between the people and the government. The Trinamool Congress is trying to portray this as a movement led by the CPI(M). This strategy aims to weaken the anti-BJP civil society members who oppose the government but may not want to get involved in a polarised political fight. Non-partisan community efforts could also be affected by this divide.

To support this narrative, the police arrested Kalatan Dasgupta, a key youth leader, on questionable charges during the second day of the Lalbazar protest. Md Salim, criticised the arrest, calling it a conspiracy to undermine the ‘Justice for RG Kar’ movement. He compared it to the BJP's tactics of discrediting dissent, mentioning the Bhima Koregaon and Delhi Riots cases. Salim argued that the West Bengal government is using similar dangerous methods, as seen in the attack on RG Kar Hospital and the destruction of evidence.

Dasgupta's arrest after a night-long vigil near Lalbazar seems like a clear attempt to target a young activist and silence the movement. This situation reflects the BJP's actions, raising serious concerns about the decline of democratic values.