In the wake of the PGT doctor’s rape and murder incident at the state-run RG Kar College and Hospital, Kolkata, cases of atrocities on women continue to surface from various places of the country.
What is even alarming is that in the state of West Bengal, which has turned into the epicentre of protests, since the RG Kar incident, conditions haven’t improved for women.
Recently, a disturbing incident from Nandigram surfaced that must have shook the conscience of many.
A woman in Nandigram, West Bengal, was allegedly stripped naked, beaten and forced to parade for 300 metres by local Bharatiya Janata Party workers.
While locals suggest the assault stemmed from a long-standing dispute between two neighbours over water drainage issues, Trinamool Congress has accused the BJP of political revenge.
The 32-year-old assaulted woman’s family had recently switched allegiance from the BJP to the TMC.
A BJP’s booth president, Tapas Das, was, reportedly, the prime accused who was booked on August 17, following a complaint by the woman.
Also read: WB: Woman in Nandigram stripped, beaten; BJP leader booked
When the incident surfaced, BJP’s Nandigram I Block convener Abhijit Maiti had said that they condemn the attack. However, this incident has no connection with the BJP. This is a conspiracy to defame the party.
However, another saffron-party leader has taken responsibility for the incident by accepting that it was BJP “supporters”, who were involved in the assault.
BJP’s district council leader Bamdeb Guchait termed the incident “shameful” but claimed, “Although those accused are our supporters, they are not party leaders or workers. Therefore, portraying this as a politically motivated act by our party is propaganda.”
So far the police have arrested six individuals, which includes the BJP’s booth president.
The incident has added to the BJP’s embarrassment, particularly as the party intensifies its criticism of the state government over the RG Kar incident.
Former BJP MP Locket Chatterjee has demanded strict punishment for the perpetrators.
“No crime has a colour, and those responsible for this in Nandigram must be punished. However, violence against women has become a common occurrence in West Bengal. The Chief Minister is marching on the streets, demanding justice against her own government to cover up the RG Kar incident — there can be no greater shame,” said Chatterjee.
There has been a history of misogyny in our country.
There are past references which involve almost every political party that has failed the woman of this country.
At a time when such a spirited movement has united the entire nation, in Nandigram, a woman has become a soft target. And, sadly, politics lies at the heart of the case.
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