Kolkata/IBNS: Popular travel influencer Tanya Khanijow has defended her controversial statement where she asked people to "avoid India" while travelling in the wake of the rape and murder of 31-year-old post-graduate medical student at Kolkata's major state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Days ago, Tanya posted on X, "Safety standards for women in India are horrible. My sincere request to all my women friends abroad. Please don’t travel here unless our dear leadership seriously creates a safer environment for women. Please avoid coming to India at all costs!"

Tanya's remark faced backlash with several netizens slammed her for generalising women's safety with one incident.

One user wrote, "So, for 1 incident that has happened in India, it has become unsafe. By this, every women should leave India and settle in foreign countries.That's why democracy for such a big country is a curse. WB is in limelight for past times in crimes but no cognizance has been taken by"

Another user said, "Don't think it's appropriate to say that for entire india...."

Tanya, who claims to have travelled to 33 countries, responded with another X post where she repeated her claim over women's safety in India.

The influencer with 1 million followers on her Instagram handle posted on X, "Safety standards for women in India are horrible. My sincere request to all my women friends abroad. Please don’t travel here unless our dear leadership seriously creates a safer environment for women. Please avoid coming to India at all costs!"

RG Kar Incident that triggered national outrage

The trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered at the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, which is located in North Kolkata's Belgachia area.

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.

She was found in a half naked state with multiple injuries in the whole body from neck and eyes to private parts. The parents were initially told by the hospital that their daughter committed suicide.

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday ordered controversial RG Kar principal Dr. Sandip Ghosh, who was appointed as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College within hours of his resignation as the head of RG Kar Medical College, to go on a long leave, coming down heavily on the role of the state government in trying to protect him.

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday snubbed the Chief Minister's deadline and handed over the case to the CBI, which will probe into the matter under the monitoring of the judiciary.

The accused civic volunteer was on Wednesday handed over to the CBI by police.

A massive protest called 'Relcaim The Night' was organised on the eve of 78th Independence Day to seek justice over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee lady doctor at Kolkata's state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and its alleged cover-up that triggered a tsunami of anger against the authorities.

Several Bollywood personalities including Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt, Hrithik Roshan, Ayushmann Khurrana have demanded justice for the victim.