Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, along with his wife Dona Ganguly, is set to join the ongoing protests in Kolkata over the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Ganguly will stand in solidarity with the junior resident doctors who are demanding justice for the victim.
Social Media Solidarity
In a show of mourning, Ganguly has changed his profile picture on the social media platform X to black, a gesture that has been widely adopted by thousands of others expressing their sorrow and outrage over the incident. Ganguly had earlier faced criticism for comments that appeared to downplay the crime as a “one-off” incident. However, he later clarified his stance, condemning the crime and calling for severe punishment for those responsible.
Supreme Court Intervention
The Supreme Court of India, under Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, has taken up the case suo motu, expressing strong criticism of the West Bengal government’s handling of the situation, particularly the delay in filing a First Information Report (FIR). The court has also established a task force to recommend safety measures for doctors on duty and has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to provide a status report on the case. The Supreme Court has termed this incident as the “last straw,” emphasizing the need for swift and decisive action to ensure the safety of medical professionals.
Ganguly’s involvement in the protests is expected to bring further attention to the case and amplify calls for justice in what has become a highly sensitive issue in West Bengal.
