Mamata’s detractors claim that she went out of the way to protect the tainted former principal of R G Kar Medical College, Sandip Ghosh, and initially allowed policemen to cover up and destroy evidence because the principal is allegedly in the know of a mafia dealing in medicines and equipment that operates in Kolkata medical colleges.
The brutal rape and murder at R G Kar Medical College, Kolkata, has exposed the rift between Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and her designated successor, nephew Abhishek Banerjee. Immediately after the crime, Abhishek had talked of capital punishment for the accused while his close associates Santanu Sen, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and Pratima Mondol took part in protests and dharnas. A furious Mamata accused Sen of spearheading the rallies, even though the striking medical fraternity has emphasised that it is an apolitical movement. Roy was served a notice by the police. Mamata’s detractors claim that she went out of the way to protect the tainted former principal of R G Kar Medical College, Sandip Ghosh, and initially allowed policemen to cover up and destroy evidence because the principal is allegedly in the know of a mafia dealing in medicines and equipment that operates in Kolkata medical colleges. After his statement demanding action against the principal, Sen was removed as spokesperson for the party. In fact, Mamata’s publicity team and the usually outspoken women MPs have been muted or defensive about the horrendous crime. Incidentally, even before the incident, on July 27, when Mamata came to Delhi for the NITI Aayog meet, journalists noticed that the chair reserved for Abhishek at her press conference in the Capital was vacant.
Brits Back Out
When Sheikh Hasina fled to the Hindon Air Force base in a Bangladesh air force jet on August 5, what the Indian government did not bargain for was that the former Bangladesh premier would be stuck in India for a protracted period. The Bangladesh air force jet remained on standby at Hindon after her arrival on the assumption that Hasina would be flying onwards to the UK, where she was to be granted asylum. After all, Khaleeda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman, against whom a murder charge is pending, was allowed sanctuary in the UK.
However, when the British High Commission in New Delhi contacted London for instructions, it was asked to wait as the new PM, Keir Starmer, would be personally taking a call. Unfortunately for Hasina, the UK was hit by Right-wing race riots against immigrants and Starmer decided he did not want to take any action which could further inflame passions. India has perforce to look for another place of asylum, most likely the UAE. Bangladesh is demanding Hasina’s extradition and India does not want to further harm relations with the new regime.
Unhappy Example
NSA Ajit Doval and the R&AW have come under flak for failing to alert the Indian government of the precariousness of Sheikh Hasina’s position after the violent demonstrations against her first escalated, even though India has an embassy and four consulates in Bangladesh. Hasina’s ouster after days of protests has badly shaken Mamata in neighbouring West Bengal. Many attribute Mamata’s strident statements on the medical intern’s rape an overreaction, with the police serving notices against a TMC MP and senior doctors, to fears of a repeat of the events in Bangladesh. Incidentally, 49 years ago, Indira Gandhi had been similarly rattled by the massacre of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family on August 15, 1975 and had feared parallel events taking place in India, where she had recently imposed an Emergency. Gandhi told her friend Pupul Jayakar that she apprehended that she was the next target. Security precautions that Independence Day were unprecedented. But R&AW was not caught napping then, R&AW chief R N Kao had warned Mujib repeatedly of a possible uprising.
Sporting Chances
Elections of presidents of sports bodies usually reflect the political climate in a state. Last month, Sharad Pawar’s candidate Ajinkya Naik convincingly defeated Sanjay Naik, backed by BJP state president Ashish Shelar, for presidency of the Mumbai Cricket Association, which was interpreted as an indication of the MVA’s rising political graph in Maharashtra. The former MCA president Amol Kale, who passed away this June, was backed by Devendra Fadnavis when the BJP was riding high in the state. Meanwhile, Congress leader Deepender Hooda was prominent in wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s tumultuous victory procession through Haryana on her return from the Olympics. The Congress hopes to cash in on Phogat’s popularity in the upcoming Haryana assembly polls.
Incidentally, Home Minister Amit Shah’s son Jay is likely to make waves soon in the international cricket world by securing the post of chairperson of the International Cricket Council (ICC) which falls vacant in November. Both the Australian and the British cricket bodies have assured their backing to the Indian candidate. Jay has twice been elected secretary of the BCCI, but his term ends next May and the court ruling specifies a cooling-off period after two terms in office. At 35, Jay will be the youngest chairperson of the ICC. He already heads the ICC’s finance committee.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First uploaded on: 25-08-2024 at 07:08 IST
