Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a rally in Durgapur, West Bengal, launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) over the RG Kar rape-murder case. He was in the state to launch Rs 5,000 crore worth of infrastructure projects and used the opportunity to question the law and order situation in Bengal ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
Modi’s Attack on Trinamool's Slogan and Women Safety
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Modi referred to the TMC’s famous slogan “Maa, Mati, Manush,” saying the party that claims to protect mothers and the people had instead shielded those accused in a horrific crime.
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He specifically cited the 2024 RG Kar Hospital incident, where a junior female doctor was raped and murdered. Her mutilated body was found in a hospital seminar hall.
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Modi said such a tragedy in “the land of Kadambini Ganguly” was deeply painful and a betrayal of Bengal’s progressive legacy.
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The PM accused the TMC of protecting the main accused, Sanjay Roy, and influencing police investigation, calling it a case of political interference.
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He also highlighted how even hospitals, once places of safety and learning, have become unsafe for young women under the current regime.
Bengal’s Development and Migration Woes Also Highlighted
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Modi used this issue to argue for change in leadership, claiming Bengal can develop only under a BJP-led government.
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He pointed to a rise in migration of Bengalis to other states due to lack of jobs and investment.
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The PM tied women’s safety and governance to overall development, urging voters to think of the future.
The RG Kar case was eventually transferred to the CBI, and the accused, Sanjay Roy, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, the absence of other arrests and allegations of TMC interference in the case still remain political flashpoints. The TMC has firmly denied shielding any accused or influencing the case, calling the accusations baseless. As Bengal heads into election mode, this issue is likely to become a central talking point, with women’s safety, law and order, and governance dominating the political discourse.
