‘Speak Only When Instructed’: In Damage-Control Mode, Mamata Raps Cadre for Stray Comments on Doctors & Protesters

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is facing flak for her handling of the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder, has instructed her ministers and MLAs to refrain from commenting on the case or the protesting junior doctors.

The latest diktat, conveyed in Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, comes amid the government’s attempt at containing the damage to its reputation in light of the controversial statements being made by party members such as Udayan Guha and Lovely Maitra.

Bengal minister and Dinhata MLA Guha sparked a row recently when he said those participating in the ‘Night Freedom Rally’ to demand justice for the trainee doctor should not call him “if your husband beats you up”. The sexist comment further pushed to the backburner the Trinamool Congress’ efforts at placating the angry commoners of the state who have taken to the streets.

This was followed by a local leader of Bengal’s Ashokenagar threatening the protesters. In a viral video, Atish Sarkar was heard addressing a gathering where he said: “Didi has instructed us to hiss… Those of you who are abusing Didi, engaging in her character assassination, if we make obscene posters of your mothers and sisters and put them on your walls, you won’t be able to remove them. That day is going to come soon.”

But this was not the end of the TMC’s woes. Soon, MLA Lovely Maitra waded into the controversy, calling the protesting doctors “butchers”. “Doctors are turning into butchers in the name of protests. The poor and underprivileged people who come from interior parts, rural areas of Bengal seeking medical treatment at government hospitals, those who cannot afford treatment at private hospitals, they are suffering. They are not being treated. Are they (doctors) human? Is this humane?”

As the leaders were reprimanded by the top brass, TMC’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee put up a post on social networking site X, saying no worker should hurt doctors and intellectuals as the party supports their cause.

In response to the threats, doctors on Tuesday marched to the health department with a model of a brain. Earlier, the protesters had gone to meet the police commissioner with the model of a spine, trying to drive home the point that the police must not remain a mute spectator.

Trinamool insiders told CNN-News18 that the top brass is upset with the stray comments being made by MLAs and councillors despite Banerjee and the seniors choosing to remain quiet on the allegations. “It is hurting the damage-control system of the party,” they said.