Kolkata, March 25: Central Minister Dharmendra Pradhan responded on Wednesday to the nomination of the mother of a victim from RG Kar as a candidate from Panihati by the BJP. In a post on the social media platform X, he stated that Ratna Debnath’s entry into the electoral fray with the BJP is not just a candidacy but a strong assertion that the daughters of West Bengal will no longer be silenced.
Pradhan emphasized that a mother’s grief has transformed into an unwavering quest for justice. Her voice has now become a movement across the state for justice, respect, and the safety of women. He criticized the repeated failures of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the TMC regarding women’s safety, claiming they have broken the public’s trust. Under their rule, countless voices have gone unheard, reminding everyone of a system that has failed its daughters.
The central minister asserted that this is not merely an election; it is a moral reckoning. The courage of a mother is now directly challenging a broken system, transforming into a collective demand for justice, accountability, and lasting change for every daughter in Bengal.
On the other hand, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh released a video questioning the situation. He acknowledged the respect and sympathy for the BJP candidate, the mother of the victim, but stated that she has lost her own respect. Ghosh condemned the rape of the victim and noted that the Kolkata police arrested the accused within 24 hours. He mentioned that the victim’s parents had demanded a CBI investigation, which took place, and the CBI upheld the Kolkata police’s findings.
He further stated that the trial court, high court, and Supreme Court monitored and validated the investigation, but later, the parents were not satisfied with the CBI’s findings. Ghosh questioned the CBI’s affiliation, asserting that it operates under the BJP, now that the victim’s mother has become their candidate.