'Never spoke against TMC': Shantanu Sen on removal as spokesperson
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shantanu Sen has claimed that he never spoke against the party or any of its leaders after he was removed as the party's spokesperson on Friday. Speaking to ANI, Sen said he learned about his removal as the party's spokesperson through media reports. Sen's shock removal came after he criticized the principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and the affairs of the state health department following the rape and murder of a trainee doctor.
Will continue to serve TMC: Sen
Sen also expressed his disappointment over the treatment of loyal party members, in comparison to those who defect from other parties. "It feels bad when leaders from other parties join ours or winning candidates from other parties join us and are given respect but a devoted and true soldier of the party has to face this," he said. He stated that he has always served as a loyal soldier of TMC and will continue to do so.
Sen highlights principal's controversial history
Sen also stated that he stood by what he said earlier, i.e., "the news related to the Health Department is not being accurately conveyed to the CM and Health Minister Mamata Banerjee." In his earlier comments, Sen highlighted that there have been numerous complaints against the principal of RG Kar Medical College over the past three years. Yet, "some people are not giving the right picture to the Chief Minister about what's happening in the health department," he stated.
IMA declares nationwide doctors' strike
Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called for a 24-hour nationwide withdrawal of doctors' services to protest the death of the trainee doctor and subsequent vandalism at the hospital. "All essential services will be maintained. Casualties will be manned. Routine OPDs will not function and elective surgeries will not be conducted," it said in a press release. The 31-year-old victim, a post-graduate trainee doctor, was found murdered in the hospital's seminar hall last week.
