Let the Establishment be Shaken

Pradosh Nath

Yes, this writer was in Kolkata, and joined the sea of protesters at midnight on 14 August on the street. There were people of all age groups, including toddlers on the shoulders of their parents. There were people struggling to walk at a fast pace not to miss the heat that was evaporating from the condensed emotions of the public who gathered in millions. ‘Justice for R G Kar’–the slogan encapsulated the emotions. The next day onwards, people from all different walks and shades of life were out in good numbers demanding ‘Justice for R G Kar’. Not many of the known faces from different political dispensations were seen in that night, or they were there, but their faces were lost in the depth of the sea of protestors on street. It was not difficult to feel that it was the latent angst for ‘Justice’ that was sparked with R G Kar and resonated across the country and beyond.

Such spontaneous public protest against the most gruesome rape and killing of a doctor is like proverbial low-hanging fruit for political parties in a race for grabbing political mileage. Ruling party leaders and cadres led by the chief minister (who also happens to hold the home and health portfolios), were out on the street demanding ‘Justice for R G Kar’. The chief minister was seen vouching for the sincerity and efficiency of Kolkata police for quickly identifying and arresting the ‘main’ accused. While demanding exemplary punishment of the arrested accused, the chief minister was also upset (or happy!!) that through the intervention of the Kolkata High Court, the case was handed over to the CBI. Chief Minister urged the public to push CBI for a quick conclusion of the investigation. The main opposition party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its outfits were all out on the streets and on TV channels, asking for the resignation of the chief minister, and interrogation and investigation on the possible role of the chief minister for her proximity and indulgence towards the then principal and his close associates of R G Kar hospital. Voices were also raised against the dubious role played by the CP and other officials of Kolkata police.

Other tiny political outfits were also flexing verbose (not having much muscle left) mostly on the TV screen, occasionally also on the streets. There are also super intellectuals, who generally cover up their docile–selves using critical analyses of the people’s movements through the lenses of the latest insights from Marxian and post–Marxian studies. One of them had raised a fundamental allegations – where were these people when Babri Masjid was vandalised, or numerous atrocities on Dalits happened in UP, Maharashtra etc states? This writer is equally upset with the public for not raising their voice on those occasions. However, on TV screen the spokespersons of different political parties were heard raising similar allegations against each other. The R G Kar case sets an interesting example when the CM of the state is on the street with party cadres seeking ‘Justice for R G Kar’, and accusing opposition parties of fishing in troubled water. Oppositions are also asking for the ‘Justice’ along with resignation of the CM and actions against those who are responsible for law and order messing up the investigation.

It is now clear that the gruesome crime is not a lone act of a pervert criminal. Although the motive behind this heinous crime is yet to be unearthed, there are indications about the possible planned murder has been staged as a stray crime. There are suspicions that the crime happened somewhere else in the building and later shifted to the fourth-floor seminar room, what is now known as the crime scene, for making any easy evidence far too difficult to obtain. It is also suspected that the goons vandalising the hospital at midnight, chasing away the police, who was begging for life and shelter, was not a stray incident of hooliganism. That they climbed and vandalised the 3rd floor, instead of 4th (shown as the crime scene) was not by any mistake or whims. Suspicion is that the 3rd floor is the original crime scene, and vandali-sation of it has been planned to destroy any evidence if left out.

Add to it the mounting allegations of nefarious activities at the behest of the Principal, who, a doctor, has been seen flaunting bouncers taking care of his safety. He is so powerful that on earlier occasions, when ordered transfer from R G Kar for indulging in corrupt practices, he was transferred back in no time. Facing the wrath of their colleagues after the murder and rape of the young doctor inside the hospital, the principal resigned but only to join within hours as principal of another city hospital. If anything, the CM is also holding the health portfolio.

The well-oiled nefarious activities in the hospital, the principal as the alleged mastermind, the brutal rape and murder of a young doctor–are they linked? Is the state administration party to the alleged corrupt practices in the hospital? Why the principal is so privileged that the state administration is out to protect him? Is there an all-out effort to cover–up?

People suspect that, left to Kolkata police, the case would have been closed by this time with the punishment of the ‘main’ accused arrested, and also with the claim of speedy justice to the victim. But for the students, and massive public support behind them, the nexus perpetrating nefarious activities would not have been exposed. Common people also suspect that R G Kar Hospital is not the only such case; the whole health administration is infested with corruption, as has been seen in the cases of other ministries. Many of such cases in different medical colleges and hospitals are coming into light.

Protest and public outcry for justice that followed the R G Kar incident has a cascading effect questioning the vested interests that run the medical and health administration, rampant malpractices, and unethical activities that define the edifice of the hospital and health management across the state. Will CBI unearth the head and tail of the crime? There are not many bright spots in the CBI performance records, after all, CBI is an important part of the establishment.

As the criminologist and victimologist, Kumaravelu Chokalingam said in a recent interview, ‘Indians by and large, simply do not trust the system; the idea that justice will prevail is usually met with disbelief, a shrug or a laugh’. Public outcry for justice is to keep the establishment on its toes. Raped and killed, the doctor will not get justice until and unless the establishment is shaken.

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Vol 57, No. 13, Sep 22 - 28, 2024