'Will break fingers': Bengal minister's threat to those abusing Mamata
West Bengal Minister Udayan Guha has ignited a controversy by threatening those criticizing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on social media. The criticism followed the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The protesters were demanding the resignation of Banerjee over her handling of the case. Guha warned that the state government would identify these individuals, and "break their fingers."
Guha compares Kolkata protests to Bangladesh unrest
Guha drew parallels between the protests in Kolkata over the trainee doctor's incident and the unrest in Bangladesh following Sheikh Hasina's ouster. He stated, "Those who are pointing fingers at Mamata Banerjee over this incident, abusing her on social media and demanding her resignation, they will be identified and their fingers will be broken." "Otherwise, these people will try to make Bengal into Bangladesh," Guha said at an event on Sunday.
Guha praises police restraint during hospital vandalism
The minister further commended the police for their restraint during the vandalism of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where the trainee doctor's semi-naked body was discovered on August 9. He said, "Even after the hospital was vandalized, the police did not fire on anyone." "The government will not allow any situation like how it happened in Bangladesh. We will not allow Bengal to turn into Bangladesh with the cooperation of locals," he said.
Student arrested for social media post
On Sunday, the Kolkata Police arrested a student for a "provocative, offensive comments" social media post that incited violence against Banerjee. "Shoot Mamata Banerjee like Indira Gandhi. If you can't do it, I wouldn't disappoint," the accused, Kirti Sharma, who operated under the handle "kirtisocial" on Instagram, shared. The police said she uploaded three Instagram stories related to the incident at RG Kar Hospital and disclosed the picture and identity of the victim, "which is highly offensive in nature."
