14 August, New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed shock and anger on Wednesday over the heinous rape and murder of a young doctor in Kolkata, saying there is growing insecurity among the medical community and women across the country.
Gandhi’s first reaction since the Thursday night event was to criticize the handling of the case and question safety precautions in educational and medical institutions.
Brutal Sexual assault with a young female doctor in Kolkata sent shockwaves across the nation
“The entire country is shocked by the heinous rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata.” The way the layers of the cruel and inhuman act against her are being revealed creates an atmosphere of insecurity among the doctors’ community and women,” stated the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha.
Rahul Gandhi also criticized the apparent attempts to shield the accused, saying they posed “serious questions about the hospital and the local administration.”
“This incident has made us wonder: if doctors aren’t safe in a place like medical college, how can parents send their daughters outside to study? Why are even the harsh regulations enacted following the Nirbhaya case ineffective in preventing such crimes?” he wondered.
Gandhi urged for a national dialogue and concrete steps to address the rising incidents of violence against women.
“Every party, every section of society will have to hold serious discussions and take concrete steps on the continuously increasing incidents against women from Hathras to Unnao, and from Kathua to Kolkata.”
CONTEXT
The body of a post-graduate trainee doctor with serious damage marks was discovered on Friday inside the seminar hall of the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital’s chest department. The preliminary autopsy results indicated that she was subjected to a brutal sexual assault.
The issue, which sparked significant protests by doctors and medical students, is now being examined by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following a Calcutta High Court decision.
On Tuesday, the West Bengal Doctors’ Forum wrote to the CBI, alleging that repair work near the crime scene was being used to tamper with evidence.
“We’ve informed the state health secretary. We implore that you investigate the situation with the utmost care and consideration that it deserves in order to bring justice to the dead lady doctor,” it stated.
READ: Administration handling the rape case with insensitivity
