Suvendu urges R.G. Kar victim’s parents to join march against Mamata

Meeting the parents of the young doctor who was raped and killed at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari urged them to join the planned ‘Nabanna Abhiyan’ (march to State Secretariat) rally against the State government on August 9, 2025.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Mr. Adhikari said they had agreed to participate in the rally.

The rally marks a year since the gruesome crime that brought people on the streets of the city demanding safety for women in public spaces. The parents have in the past 10 months participated in numerous protests seeking justice for their daughter, also referred to as Abhaya.

“In the next one month I will make all efforts to make the movement successful. We will participate without any flags. The only thing which we require is that we should not be humiliated,” Mr. Adhikari said. The BJP leader lauded the difficult fight that the parents had put up against the State government. 

“The R.G. Kar Hospital victim had shed blood from her eyes, not tears. The current ruling dispensation offers protection to rapists and torturers, that’s why they must go. I will visit the victim’s parents soon and seek their blessings for organising this march to Nabanna on her death anniversary, which we will hold without party flags.” the BJP leader has said.

One person was arrested and sentenced to a life term in January 2025 in the case. The victim’s parents, however, have not been satisfied with the outcome of the investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and have said that they have been failed by both the State government and the Union government.

The parents of the deceased doctor have approached Calcutta High Court with questions on the investigation by the CBI. Recently, the counsel of the parents urged the court to allow them access to the scene of the crime.