MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray slams TMC for Disconnection From Ground Realities

Kolkata: Soon after resigning from the post of Rajya Sabha MP and giving up primary membership of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), former TMC Sukhendu Sekhar Ray on Monday criticized the TMC over the RG Kar Hospital murder-rape case and alleged that the state leadership was out of touch with facts. Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, the Rajya Sabha MP who created a major jolt in the Trinamool Congress amid the ongoing political discord within the party, has resigned from his membership in the Upper House of Parliament and primary membership of the TMC.

Speaking to reporters after resigning from office, Ray said, “The government had reached such a point that they believed that no one in the world could touch them.” He claimed that the ministers, panchayat leaders, councilors and mayors who have been in power for the last 15 years could not be reached, while grassroots party workers were pushed aside. Our party workers, who fought against the Left Front for years and strengthened the organization with their blood and sweat, were pushed aside. Thieves, priests and rapists came to the fore. All of this is now coming to light and being shown on television. Who has the biggest house in the village? “There is a swimming pool, exotic birds etc… Billions of rupees have been looted, so now I am making a demand,” he said.

Declaring himself as an ordinary citizen, Ray demanded a judicial audit of hospital purchases made in the last 5 years. “I can request the new government to investigate the purchases made by every hospital in Bengal in the last 5 years… There should be a judicial audit… Rape and murder cases occur frequently in our country. There is nothing more disgusting than this in society…” Ray underlined the public reaction to the RG Kar incident and said, “The impact of the RG Kar incident was not limited to that… As soon as the RG Kar incident took place, the people took to the streets. People who had never attended a march or rally in their lives, who had no connection with politics, even doctors, stayed on the streets all night…”

Criticizing the party leadership for ignoring the crisis, he added: “At that time, the leaders and administrators did not engage in any negotiations or discussions on this issue. They were so confused by power that they believed that no one in the world could touch them. But those who sent them there have now brought them down… Everyone’s assets should be investigated. Investigate ministers, panchayat leaders, national leaders or international leaders. Investigate them all…”

Also, on Sukhendu Ray’s resignation as RS MP and from AITC, West Bengal LoP and expelled TMC leader Ritabrata Banerjee said it was disheartening to see a parliamentarian of his stature being pushed to the backbench. “This is not just about Sukhendu. In fact, I have not spoken to him personally… I agree with most of what he said, especially about the functioning of the Upper House of Parliament. His observations were absolutely spot on. Parliament is not the place for a quiz… I personally experienced the same thing Sukendu described… It was disheartening to see Sukendu pushing his speech to the back burner today; others will do the same tomorrow,” he said. He added: “I’ve spoken to a few MPs… If they want to sit together that’s fine.

“Earlier on May 28, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar also resigned from the post of All India Trinamool Mahila Congress president, citing concerns over alleged “misogynistic behavior” within the party and a number of issues that he said deeply troubled his conscience.(ANI)This comes amid ongoing speculation that 20 Lok Sabha MPs from TMC have split in the wake of the latest riot. Anti-party MLA Ritabrata in the West Bengal assembly Expelled by Banerjee for anti-party activities in the TMC, Banerjee formed a separate faction in the West Bengal assembly with the support of 58 MLAs and was later elected Leader of Opposition in place of Sobhandev Chattopadhyay. Ritabrata Banerjee’s faction openly criticizes Abhishek Banerjee’s leadership and blames him for the party’s defeat in the recent State Assembly polls.