‘She is lying’: Kolkata doctor’s mother refutes Mamata’s ‘no money offered’ claim, BJP backs it with video

The mother of the Kolkata rape victim on Monday criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for not offering financial assistance to the victim’s family. The mother of the deceased doctor alleged that Banerjee had in fact offered financial compensation after the incident.

Read more: ‘Tone your voice down…’: Supreme Court Chief Justice Chandrachud scolds lawyers during hearing of Kolkata rape and murder case

“The chief minister is lying. My daughter is not coming back. Am I lying in my daughter’s name? The chief minister said we will get money and suggested we make something in her memory. I replied that I will go to her office to collect the money once she walks the path of righteousness,” news agency ANI quoted the victim’s mother as saying.

Earlier, the victim’s parents had alleged that the Chief Minister had offered them the money on August 12 when he visited their home in Panihati, North Pargannath.

The victim’s father and aunt had also alleged that the Kolkata Police tried to cover up the incident and offered them money as hush money.

Shortly after the victim’s mother’s statement, several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders expressed their support for her and posted a video showing both Mamata Banerjee’s statements.

Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari called the Bengal Chief Minister a “liar” and said it was unfortunate for Bengalis that a person like her is their chief minister.

In X’s post, he wrote, “It is unfortunate for Bengalis that a liar like you is in the Chief Minister’s chair. How many more lies do you intend to tell? Stop it now.”

In his post, Adhikari also shared a collage of videos showing Mamata’s earlier statements and her assertions on September 9.

In another post on X, Adhikari said, “Mamata Banerjee is waging war on the people of West Bengal! After issuing orders that people must shun protests and take part in celebrations, she is now moving towards further suppressing spontaneous movements for justice.”

The victim’s mother also termed Banerjee’s appeal to people to stop protesting and prepare for the upcoming Durga Puja festival as “inhuman”.

“I feel it is inhumane because I am a mother of a girl. I have lost a child so I feel it is inhumane. If people across the country want to go home for the (Durga Puja) festival, they can go home,” she said.

“I used to celebrate Durga Puja at my house too. My daughter used to do it at home. But now darkness has enveloped our lives. How can we tell people to celebrate the festival at such times,” she added.

Mamata clarifies her earlier claim

Banerjee on Monday asserted that no money had been provided to the families and termed the allegations as a “slander” against the government.

“I have never offered any money to the family of the deceased doctor. This is purely slander,” Mamata told news agency PTI.

“We have told the family of the late doctor that if they want to do something in memory of their daughter, the government will assist them,” she added.

Read more: ‘How was the post-mortem carried out…’: Supreme Court questions Bengal govt over missing documents in Kolkata rape-murder case

Addressing an administrative review meeting at the state government secretariat, Nabanna, early on Monday, the Chief Minister urged people to “get back to celebrations” as Durga Puja is approaching.

“When we are on the roads every night, senior citizens suffer from lack of sleep due to noise pollution. We are not acting as per the norms of the state pollution control board. A month has passed. Please resume the festival and demand the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to complete the investigation at the earliest,” she said.

The victim’s mother, however, said the protests over her daughter’s death will continue until justice is secured for her.

Supreme Court asks Bengal doctors to resume work

The Supreme Court on Monday urged protesting doctors in West Bengal to return to duty by 5 pm on Tuesday (September 10) and asked police and the state government to ensure their safety. The court, however, warned that the doctors may face disciplinary action if they continue to be absent from work.

A three-member bench of Chief Justice of India Chandrachud, Manoj Misra and JB Pardiwala was hearing the case involving the rape and murder of a medical intern at RG Kall Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.