A PROTEST campaign was organised on Sunday, March 9th by the Joint Platform of Doctors, West Bengal, and Abhaya Mancha. The demonstration was in response to the unjust and brutal murder of Abhaya and the disgraceful behavior of the education minister at Jadavpur University.  Biman Basu, Left Front chairman, urged all democracy-loving and well-meaning individuals to participate in two grand marches planned in Kolkata. These processions, along with a spontaneous civil society movement, significantly impacted the Chowringhee area. The two marches commenced at 4 pm from Hazra crossing and Dharmatala and converged at Ranuchhaya Mancha, where a large protest meeting was held. The meeting saw diverse participation from doctors, students, professionals, and activists.

The Left Front supported the upcoming civic marches demanding justice for Abhaya's murder and strict punishment for those responsible for the Jadavpur University incident.

The Joint Platform of Doctors, West Bengal, Abhaya Mancha, and the Association of Health Service Doctors, West Bengal, have all announced a programme and urged civil society to participate. Their statement highlighted the lack of justice for Abhaya and ongoing attempts to cover up the truth, especially as Sunday marks seven months since the brutal murder.

Dr Utpal Bandopadhyay stated that a "politics of fear" and a "threat culture" are prevalent, supported by the ruling powers. He added that the health system has deteriorated, with widespread fraud and counterfeit medicines. The ruling party retaliates against anyone who protests.

He further stated that at Jadavpur University, the education minister's arrogance was evident when his car ran over protesting students. The administration is avoiding responsibility and covering up events, necessitating stronger protests. Organisers affirmed they have been protesting and will do so again in Kolkata on Sunday, with simultaneous protests in all districts.

The protest meeting was attended by RG Kar victims’s parents, Amit Roy (father of Indranuj who was injured by the education minister's car in Jadavpur), Indrani Dutta (wife of retired police officer Pankaj Dutta who died due to police harassment), and the grandmother of a Barrackpore victim, among other prominent citizens.

The speakers demanded 'justice' and called for a fight against all injustices. Abhaya's father demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, stating, "If she doesn't resign, the people of the state will have to take on the responsibility of cleaning up the government."

Young and old alike joined the march, chanting slogans and carrying banners that read, "Seven months after Abhaya's murder, the minister's car runs over education." Despite the Indian cricket team's final match, two processions converged in front of the Ranucchaya Mancha, causing a roadblock and a public gathering.

At Ranuchhaya Manch, following the march, educationists Pabitra Sarkar, thespian Soumitra Basu, actor Debdut Ghosh, and others spoke out against the "anti-democratic government" for destroying the health and education sectors. They emphasized that citizens must speak out and demand justice to save the state.

CPI(M) state secretary Md Salim, Party leaders Rabin Deb, and Kollol Majumdar (Kolkata district secretary), along with youth leaders Minakshi Mukherjee, Dhrubajyoti Saha, Debanjan De, and secretary, Democratic Writers & Artists Association, Rajat Bandyopadhyay participated in the citizen's march.

Answering questions from reporters, Salim stated that the protests happening across the state are part of a long fight for truth and justice. He highlighted the unity of the people against the "unjust ruling parties" over the past seven months, and cited the incident at Jadavpur as evidence of the BJP-TMC alliance against the people. He asserted that the growing unity and voice of the people are causing fear and driving the two ruling parties closer together.

Abhaya's parents expressed their gratitude to the larger family of the movement for justice. Abhaya's mother said, "My daughter's life stopped on August 9th, but our fight has not. It pains us when everyone addresses us as parents of the victim. My daughter did nothing wrong, so why should her name be erased?"

Abhaya's father criticised the CBI for their lack of progress, stating that they simply submitted the Kolkata Police's report as the charge sheet. He expressed his frustration with the Supreme Court for delaying justice by taking up the case suo moto, and stated his intention to move the case from the Supreme Court to the High Court to appeal the Sealdah Court's verdict.

He accused the Kolkata Police of covering up the crime within three days under the guise of investigation. They failed to seal or cordon off the crime scene, the seminar room, until August 13th. High-ranking Kolkata Police officers were present at the scene after the incident to obstruct the investigation on the chief minister's orders.

He emphasized that since his daughter's death, at least 22 crimes against women have occurred in the state, and criminals are becoming bolder due to the lack of justice in his daughter's case. He believes that the chief minister, who also holds the positions of minister of health and police, must resign, or the people will be forced to take on the responsibility of cleaning up the mess.

Amit Roy, father of Indranuj Roy, the student who was injured by the education minister's car at Jadavpur University, expressed that the students were merely communicating their legitimate demands. He questioned the rationale behind viewing them as adversaries and emphasized that instead of blaming the students, those in higher positions should introspect on whether they are fulfilling their responsibilities towards education.

Indrani Dutta, whose husband was the late former Inspector General of West Bengal Police Pankaj Dutta, asserted that as a police officer, her husband always followed protocol. She questioned why a decorated retired officer like him had to endure six hours of harassment at a police station at the age of seventy. She emphasized that this experience caused his illness and ultimately led to his death. Indrani Dutta warned that if such actions are not opposed, anyone could find themselves in a similar situation in the future.