Female doctor death case: Durga Puja committees refuse to take grant from Bengal government

The demand for justice in the case of the alleged rape and murder of a female doctor at Kolkata's Government RG Kar Medical College and Hospital is getting louder. In this connection, many Durga Puja committees of the state have refused to accept the grant money given by the West Bengal government.

Puja committees have rejected Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's offer of a grant of Rs 85,000. Puja committees said that they cannot take help from such a government when women are on the streets demanding security. The committees say that they have decided to boycott the grant from the government this year.

Rina Das, president of the Hooghly-based Bhadrakali Buthan Sangha, said, "We have decided to boycott this grant this year to respect the sentiments of our members who are upset over the brutal attack on a female doctor at her workplace. We have been receiving this grant for the last several years."

Until the culprits are caught… we will not accept the grant

Prasanjit Bhattacharya of Uttarpara Shakti Sangha expressed similar sentiments. He said, "This is a symbolic protest. We will not accept the money until the culprits of this heinous crime are caught and brought to justice." Other Puja committees, including those in Murshidabad and Nadia districts, have informed the local authorities of their decision not to accept the grants.

Similarly, the Jadavpur-based 'The Hiland Park Durga Utsav Samiti' has also refused to accept the grant to express solidarity with the victim's family. An official of the committee commented, 'We unanimously decided not to accept the grant under the current circumstances and demanded justice.'

'Why is it being linked to Durga Puja of Bengal?'

The Forum for Durga Puja, which represents Durga Puja committees, has appealed to keep the festival separate from the tragic incident of RG Kar. Senior functionary Partha Ghosh said, "We are saddened and shocked by this tragedy and demand strict punishment for all the culprits involved in it. We want justice to be delivered as soon as possible, but we do not understand why it is being linked to Bengal's Durga Puja, which is recognized by UNESCO."

Sajal Ghosh, the main organizer of the Santosh Mitra Square Puja Committee and a senior BJP leader, had earlier appealed to all Puja committees to not accept grants to express their dissatisfaction with the state's way of handling the matter. Ghosh said, "We have not accepted grants for the last several years. I appeal to all committees to adopt our stand unitedly."