Amid public fury, Mamata Banerjee dedicates mega TMC event to RG Kar rape-murder victim

Mamata will deliver her address at the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad or TMCP (the students' wing of the party) in downtown Kolkata on Wednesday.

This will be her first public appearance since she took out a rally demanding justice for the RG Kar victim.

The TMC supremo posted on X, "Today I dedicate Trinamool Chhatra Parishad Foundation Day to our sister, whom we mourned the tragic loss of at RG Kar Hospital a few days ago.

"And please, our heartfelt condolences to the family of the sister who was brutally tortured to death and seeking speedy justice, as well as to all the women of all ages across India who have been subjected to such inhumane acts. Sorry. Students, youth have a great social role.

"It is the task of student society to give the dream of a new day by keeping the society and culture awake and to inspire everyone around with the bright vows of a new day. My appeal to all of them today, be encouraged in this effort, stay committed. My dear students, stay well, stay healthy, stay committed to a bright future."

Though the RG Kar case is now being probed by the CBI, the state administration is facing public anger over its slow progress in the case until it was handed over to the premier investigating agency under the central government.

One person, a civic volunteer, has been arrested in connection with the case but protesting students as well as the victim's parents suspect more people are involved in the case.

Mamata's rally demanding justice for the victim earlier this month had triggered sharp responses from the Opposition and a memefest on social media.

Some social media users had taken a dig at her claiming that Mamata Banerjee was asking for her resignation from herself as she controls both home and health ministries.

The TMCP's programme is being held on a day the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the main opposition party in the state, called a 12-hour bandh on Wednesday.

The 6 am-6pm bandh has been called by the BJP in protest against police's alleged assault on the students and protesters who marched to the state secretariat Nabanna.

The march was called by the students under the banner of 'Chhatra Samaj' demanding justice for the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and resignation of Mamata Banerjee.