Ex TMC MP Mimi Chakraborty Faces Rape Threats for Supporting Kolkata Doctors’ Protest
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/21th August 2024
Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP and popular Bengali actor Mimi Chakraborty has recently revealed that she has been receiving rape threats online after voicing her support for protesting doctors in Kolkata. The threats are reportedly linked to her backing of the ongoing protests, which erupted following the horrific rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College.
Mimi Chakraborty took to the social media platform X to share screenshots of the disturbing messages she has received. Expressing her outrage, she questioned the normalization of such vile behavior, stating, “AND WE ARE DEMANDING JUSTICE FOR WOMEN RIGHT???? These are just a few of them. Where rape threats have been normalized by venomous men masking themselves in the crowd saying they stand by women. What upbringing and education permits this????” Her post also tagged the cybercrime division of Kolkata police, urging them to take action against the perpetrators.
The threats against Chakraborty highlight the toxic environment that often accompanies public discourse, particularly when women speak out on issues of social justice. Despite her celebrity status and political background, Chakraborty is not immune to the misogyny and threats of violence that many women face when they challenge the status quo.
The backdrop to this troubling situation is the ongoing nationwide protests by junior doctors, who are demanding justice for their colleague brutally assaulted by a civic volunteer, Sanjoy Roy, at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The heinous crime has sparked widespread outrage and has led to disruptions in medical services across the country, with out-patient services and surgeries being affected. However, emergency services continue to operate as protests persist.
In response to the escalating situation, the Supreme Court has established a task force to propose safety measures for medical professionals. While the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) has welcomed the move, they have stated that the decision to end the strike will only be made after thorough discussions with the protesting doctors. A recent meeting held by resident doctors’ associations ended without a conclusive decision on the next steps.
The atmosphere of fear and intimidation extends beyond just the threats against Chakraborty. In a related incident, a man was arrested in West Bengal’s Purba Bardhaman district for allegedly threatening a woman doctor with a fate similar to that of the victim in Kolkata. The man reportedly became angry when the doctor was late in starting his treatment and warned her by referencing the tragic incident at RG Kar Medical College, saying, “Did you see what happened at RG Kar Medical College Hospital? It can happen to you too.”
These incidents reflect a broader culture of violence and intimidation that continues to plague society, particularly targeting women who are outspoken or who are in positions of authority. The ongoing protests by doctors and the threats faced by figures like Mimi Chakraborty underscore the urgent need for systemic change, both in terms of ensuring the safety of medical professionals and in addressing the deep-seated misogyny that fuels such threats.
As the protests continue and the legal system grapples with the fallout from these events, the public remains on edge, demanding justice for the victims and accountability for those who perpetuate such violence.
