Not upset about failing to meet Amit Shah, may get chance later: Parents of deceased R G Kar medic
Kolkata, Oct 31: The parents of the medic who was raped and murdered in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital said on Thursday that they were not upset about not getting an audience with Union Minister Amit Shah during his visit to West Bengal on October 27.
The couple, who had written to Shah on October 22 seeking an appointment, expressed hope that they may get the opportunity to meet the Union home minister in future.
“We understand that being the union home minister, he has enormous responsibilities. He must be too hard-pressed to squeeze some time out for us during the day-long visit,” the mother of the deceased doctor said.
On October 27, Shah made his first visit to Bengal after the Lok Sabha polls in April-May and also after the rape and murder of the on-duty doctor at state-run RG Kar hospital on August 9, triggering nationwide protests.
State BJP leaders had said they would try to arrange a meeting between Shah and the medic’s parents, but it did not happen.
“Maybe we will be able to meet him one day in future,” the medic’s mother told Bengali news channel ABP Ananda.
The parents criticized the newly-formed Junior Doctors Association, considered a parallel platform of the West Bengal Junior Doctors Forum which had been agitating in various ways demanding justice for the deceased medic besides stronger security measures at state-run hospitals.
“What is the locus standi of this new association? Did they ever protest after the death of our daughter? Many of these association members are known to be part of the threat culture brigade,” the mother said.
The agitating junior doctors have been alleging that a threat culture exists in the government healthcare sector, in which a section of medics, teachers and officials are involved.
The mother also recalled how their daughter used to decorate their residence with lamps on the day of Kali Puja every year.
“After bursting of fireworks, we (parents and daughter) used to go for pandal hopping and dine out. This year our house is plunged into darkness. We pray to Goddess Kali for the punishment of all those involved in the crime,” she said.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
