RG Kar protest: ‘Woman in pain’ statue sparks controversy, criticised by Trinamool leader

Kolkata: A statue symbolising the “woman in pain” was installed on Wednesday at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital to protest the rape and murder of a junior doctor. The move has drawn criticism from Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh, who took to social media to express his concerns. He argued that naming the statue Tilottoma - one of the names protesters gave to the victim - contradicts the Supreme Court’s guidelines regarding the depiction of victims of such crimes.

“The installation of this statue in the name of Tilottama is against the spirit of the Supreme Court pronouncement. No responsible person can do that. Not even in the name of art. There will be protests, demands for justice. But the statue with the girl's face of pain is not right. There are guidelines in the country called Nigrahita's pictures, idols, etc,” Ghosh posted on X.

The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Forum (WBJDF), which is leading the protest, chose this date to coincide with Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary and Mahalaya Amavasya, an important day in Hinduism for honouring ancestors.

In the afternoon, the junior doctors plan to hold a protest rally in Kolkata to voice their demands related to the tragedy. WBJDF has also resumed its cease-work actions since Tuesday, stating that the protest will continue until their ten-point demands are addressed.

Agency