Panihati (West Bengal), April 9 (NationPress) BJP leader Smriti Irani joined Ratna Debnath, the mother of the victim in the RG Kar rape-murder case, as she submitted her nomination to run as the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate in Panihati, West Bengal.

Irani took the opportunity to launch a pointed critique of the ruling Trinamool Congress, highlighting issues concerning women's safety, alleged corruption, and rising incidents of violence, while promising that true justice would be achieved.

Addressing the press, Irani stated, "I stand here today for the mother in West Bengal whose daughter was not just brutally murdered but also assaulted. This mother, exercising her democratic right today, has raised the call for change in the electoral arena."

Ratna Debnath is the mother of a junior doctor at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, who tragically lost her life due to a violent incident that occurred on the hospital grounds in August 2024. She is also a voter in the Panihati constituency, where she is now contesting the Assembly elections.

Irani went on to accuse the Trinamool Congress of showing disrespect towards Debnath, stating, "It is a source of deep sorrow, something that should outrage all of us, that Trinamool's thugs are publicly humiliating this brave mother. I call upon every citizen to support and uplift this courageous mother. I urge the people of West Bengal to vote for her, as she stands as a beacon of the fight for justice for everyone."

This statement came a day after Debnath reported being targeted during a door-to-door campaign in Panihati, where tensions heightened when a group of women confronted her and shouted slogans.

Debnath recounted that the situation escalated as she traveled through another alley, allegedly being surrounded by individuals she labeled as miscreants along with ASHA workers.

She claimed they attempted to attack her, hurled objects, and some even pulled her hair during the altercation. Reports indicated that several of her supporters also suffered injuries in the melee.

From Panihati, the Trinamool Congress has nominated Tirthankar Ghosh, son of the sitting MLA and current Chief Whip of the party in the state Assembly, Nirmal Ghosh. The latter’s name had previously arisen in a controversy concerning the alleged swift cremation arrangements for the victim's body.

The RG Kar rape and murder incident dates back to August 9, 2024, when a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor was discovered deceased inside a seminar room at the Kolkata hospital, igniting widespread outrage and protests throughout the nation, with a growing demand for justice.

In light of public outcry regarding the initial handling of the case, the investigation was reassigned to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has since made several arrests related to the case.

Voting for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly is slated to occur in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with vote counting scheduled for May 4, according to the Election Commission of India.