Daijiworld Media Network – Durgapur

Durgapur, Jul 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a blistering attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress (TMC), accusing them of shielding the guilty in the horrific RG Kar Hospital rape-murder case that shook the state last year.

Speaking at a rally in Durgapur after launching Rs 5,000 crore worth of development projects in oil, gas, power, road, and rail sectors, PM Modi turned the spotlight on women’s safety, calling the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital “a matter of deep pain and anger.”

"The mistreatment of women by a party that preaches 'maa, mati, manush' deeply pains and angers me," the Prime Minister said, referencing the Trinamool’s famed slogan and legacy of women-centric politics. He further lamented, “Today even hospitals are not safe for young women... and the Trinamool has spared no effort in protecting the perpetrators of the RG Kar case.”

The case, which broke in August last year, involved the rape and gruesome murder of a young junior doctor inside a seminar room of the RG Kar Hospital campus. The accused, Sanjay Roy, was later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment following a CBI probe, but opposition parties, including the BJP and Congress, have long accused the TMC of trying to shield him and influence the investigation.

PM Modi lashed out at the Mamata Banerjee-led government, blaming it for political interference, poor law and order, and the continued migration of Bengali youth to other states in search of jobs. He warned that only a change in leadership would bring true development to West Bengal.

The Trinamool, meanwhile, has repeatedly denied charges of shielding the accused and claimed the BJP was politicising a tragic incident. The case had triggered nationwide outrage, with protests by doctors demanding stronger protection against assaults and political pressure in hospitals.

As West Bengal gears up for next year’s crucial elections, Modi’s fierce remarks signal the BJP’s intent to target the TMC’s core voter base—particularly women—with an aggressive campaign focused on safety, justice, and governance.