Parents of R.G. Kar hospital victim doing politics by maligning CM: Firhad Hakim

West Bengal minister accuses parents of R.G. Kar hospital victim of playing politics to malign Chief Minister Banerjee.

West Bengal minister Firhad Hakim said on Sunday (January 26, 2025) that the parents of the R.G. Kar hospital victim are doing politics by maligning Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

A day earlier, Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh alleged that the parents of the R.G. Kar hospital victim are being “used” by the forces which want to “defame, malign and plot conspiracy against the Mamata Banerjee government”.

Joining his Trinamool Congress colleague Mr. Ghosh, Mr. Hakim said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been elected by popular mandate and not by “those who are using the grief-stricken parents as puppets.

Replying to a question by reporters on the sidelines of a Republic Day function in the city, the Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim said, “I share the extreme pain and anguish of the parents. I share their reservations about the way the CBI investigated the case after taking it over from Kolkata Police.”

“But when they (the R.G. Kar victim’s parents) target the CM and malign her without any reason, I have to say they are exceeding the brief. They are not supposed to speak on the governance of the CM who came to power by popular mandate and not by the wish of forces who are using the parents as puppets for their agenda,” the Minister said.

Mr. Hakim, who is also the mayor of Kolkata, alleged the parents are doing politics over the issue and playing in the hands of vested interests. “They should not mouth scripted lines like parrots,” he said.

The strong reactions by the two ruling party leaders were preceded by comments of the parents of the deceased post-graduate trainee doctor.