KOLKATA: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee spoke out Thursday against “attempts to twist” her statements, saying she supported the protests by junior doctors demanding justice for the RG Kar rape-murder victim.
“Let me most emphatically clarify that I have not uttered a single word against the (medical, etc) students or their movements. I totally support their movement.Their stir is genuine. I never threatened them, as some people are accusing me of doing. This allegation is completely false,” she said.
At a Trinamool Chhatra Parishad Foundation Day event on Wednesday, Banerjee had told doctors that she supported their protest but urged them to return to work, reminding them of a Supreme Court order. “Several poor people have lost their lives already. The rich can afford to get treated at private hospitals, but can a poor pregnant lady wait for her delivery? Can a heart patient wait for a surgery? We have not taken any punitive action till now, and I will not take action even now. But slowly, you must join work,” the CM had said.
Banerjee also clarified her “hiss” (phonsh kora) remark from the previous day, which she said was misinterpreted. The CM referred to the parable in which a monk advised a snake “not to bite anybody but surely hiss when attacked”, meaning “while not harming is the principle, protesting against injustice is right”.
In a post on X, she wrote: “I have spoken against BJP. I have spoken against them because, with the support of the government of India, they are threatening the democracy in our state and trying to create anarchy….”
The CM went on: “I also clarify that the phrase (phonsh kora) that I had used in my speech yesterday is a quote from Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. The legendary saint had said that occasionally there is a need to raise one’s voice. When there are crimes and criminal offences, a voice of protest has to be raised. My speech on that point was a direct allusion to the great Ramakrishnite saying.”
“Let me most emphatically clarify that I have not uttered a single word against the (medical, etc) students or their movements. I totally support their movement.Their stir is genuine. I never threatened them, as some people are accusing me of doing. This allegation is completely false,” she said.
At a Trinamool Chhatra Parishad Foundation Day event on Wednesday, Banerjee had told doctors that she supported their protest but urged them to return to work, reminding them of a Supreme Court order. “Several poor people have lost their lives already. The rich can afford to get treated at private hospitals, but can a poor pregnant lady wait for her delivery? Can a heart patient wait for a surgery? We have not taken any punitive action till now, and I will not take action even now. But slowly, you must join work,” the CM had said.
Banerjee also clarified her “hiss” (phonsh kora) remark from the previous day, which she said was misinterpreted. The CM referred to the parable in which a monk advised a snake “not to bite anybody but surely hiss when attacked”, meaning “while not harming is the principle, protesting against injustice is right”.
In a post on X, she wrote: “I have spoken against BJP. I have spoken against them because, with the support of the government of India, they are threatening the democracy in our state and trying to create anarchy….”
The CM went on: “I also clarify that the phrase (phonsh kora) that I had used in my speech yesterday is a quote from Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. The legendary saint had said that occasionally there is a need to raise one’s voice. When there are crimes and criminal offences, a voice of protest has to be raised. My speech on that point was a direct allusion to the great Ramakrishnite saying.”