Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Jawhar Sircar announced his resignation on Sunday, protesting the rape and murder of a woman doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and corruption in West Bengal’s governance.
Sircar, a retired IAS officer, informed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of his decision through a letter dated September 8. In the letter, he also revealed his decision to quit politics entirely.
Speaking to the media, Sircar confirmed he would soon formally submit his resignation to the Rajya Sabha Chairman. He stated that he had considered resigning in 2022 after corruption allegations against former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee surfaced. However, he stayed on, hoping that Mamata Banerjee would act against financial corruption.
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Sircar criticized the state government for its handling of the R.G. Kar issue. He noted the widespread protests in West Bengal were driven by the actions of a “pampered bureaucracy and corrupt individuals.” He expressed shock at the level of public dissatisfaction, saying he had “never witnessed such grievance” against any government.
He questioned why the Chief Minister had not directly addressed the protesting junior doctors, as she had done in the past. He also called the government’s recent disciplinary measures “too late” and said the situation could have been controlled earlier.
The opposition has welcomed Sircar’s decision, though the Trinamool Congress has yet to respond.