Trinamool Congress MP Jawhar Sircar resigned from his parliamentary post on Sunday. (File Image: PTI)
Speaking exclusively to News18, Sircar said that the Mamata government had taken several “wrong administrative decisions” in the rape and murder case and at this juncture, he felt he should leave the party.
Trinamool Congress MP Jawhar Sircar on Sunday resigned from his parliamentary post over the West Bengal government’s handling of the Kolkata doctor rape and murder case. Sircar wrote a two-page letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and expressed his desire to resign from his MP post. Speaking exclusively to News18, he said that the Mamata government had taken several “wrong administrative decisions” in this case and at this juncture, he felt he should leave the party.
“There had to be some way to draw her (Mamata Banerjee’s) attention, I took an unusual step, but I had to take it,” Sircar said.
“Last one month, I tried to send a message through people asking for strict action. People are unhappy. The administration’s role was not good in this case. The RG Kar Principal was suspended only after an arrest in the case. I have the experience of administration, and therefore, in this case, I have difference of opinion. I thought they will listen, but they did not. So I had to draw attention,” Sircar said.
When asked about corruption within the TMC, Sircar said that the protests over the Kolkata rape and murder could not have sustained if there wasn’t anger against the state government. “Abahaya is a horrific story and lots of protests are on now. But the way it has been handled is wrong. The movement is spontaneous but this could not have sustained for one month if there wasn’t overall disgust and anger against the government. People are angry and it’s an effect of a lot of things together,” he said.
He added that everyone notices corruption in the party. “Even my driver talks about how rich even the minor people of the party are. I had to put it forth in a rough manner. They have to take action now otherwise things won’t be right. We need to stop communal forces,” Sircar added.
Sources said that on Sunday evening, Mamata Banerjee called him but he did not change his decision. When asked about this, Sircar said, “Yes, she spoke to me on various issues today, but I am firm on my decision.”
Talking about the administrative failure in the rape and murder case, Sircar said, “Hospital, police, state administration have failed. No exemplary steps have been taken. Steps that have been taken are too little too late.”
