Kolkata/IBNS: Former Indian cricket captain and ex-BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly, who is facing massive criticisms for calling the RG Kar rape-murder a "stray incident" and an "accident", will hit the streets demanding justice for the victim on Wednesday.

Ganguly will be accompanied by his wife, dancer Dona Ganguly.

As per reports, the former skipper will join Dona whose dance school Diksha Manjari will lead a protest demanding justice for the 31-year-old junior doctor, who was raped and murdered at Kolkata's major state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Sourav Ganguly faces flak over his remarks

In response to the incident, Ganguly last Sunday said, "It's very unfortunate. There should be strict action against it. It's terrible. I don't think it is appropriate to judge safety issues based on a stray incident. It is just one of the incidents. Such accidents happen in all parts of the world but this has to be strictly dealt with."

Actress Sreelekha Mitra, known for her outspokenness and support to the Left, slammed Sourav Ganguly for calling the incident a stray one.

"I am really sad Sourav that you let down the same people who put you on a pedestal and called you Maharaj for your cricket and the popularity of  your Dadagiri (TV show). And you are calling this a stray incident?," said Mitra.

She said people have been exposed and they should be brought down for what they are.

Actress Swastika Mukherjee too lashed out at Ganguly saying, "RAPE and MURDER is not ACCIDENT. It is definitely NOT A STRAY INCIDENT EITHER... Our BELOVED ICON - I wish you didn’t belittle this act of violence. I wish."

Clarification

Facing backlash, Ganguly at a separate event on Saturday reiterated that the RG Kar incident is "terrible" and "strict punishment" should be meted out.

The former skipper said, "I don't know how it was construed and interpreted. It was a terrible thing. I want strict punishment for the culprits so that people don't think of committing such crimes ever again. Punishment has to be very severe."

Commenting on the strike by doctors in hospitals, Ganguly said, "Protest and all is fine but people need medical services too. Doctor community is very important for people on an emergency basis."