TMC MP Jawhar Sircar on Sunday wrote to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, the chief of his occasion, and stated he has determined to stop Rajya Sabha and go away politics altogether, describing the steps taken by the state authorities in dealing with the rape and homicide of the physician at RG Kar hospital “too little and fairly late”.
Within the letter, Sircar stated he grew to become more and more “disillusioned” with the state authorities because it appeared “fairly unconcerned” about corruption and “strong-arm techniques” of a piece of leaders.
Terming the protests over the physician’s demise spontaneous, the retired IAS officer stated he had not seen “such angst and complete no-confidence” in opposition to a authorities, even when it was saying issues that had been right or factual.
“The first function of becoming a member of as an MP, with none direct involvement in occasion politics, was that it supplied a wonderful discussion board to hold on the wrestle in opposition to the autocratic and communal politics of the BJP and its Prime Minister. To that extent, I’ve some satisfaction and my a number of interventions in parliament…,” he stated within the letter.
Sircar stated that in 2022, a 12 months after he joined the TMC, he was “fairly shocked” to see the “open proof of corruption” that former schooling minister Partha Chatterjee had indulged in.
“I made a public assertion that corruption have to be tackled by the occasion and authorities, however I used to be heckled by senior leaders within the occasion. I didn’t resign then as I had hoped that you’d carry in your public marketing campaign in opposition to ‘lower cash’ and corruption that you simply had began a 12 months earlier,” he stated.
The previous bureaucrat stated that he was persuaded by well-wishers to stay an MP to “keep it up the battle” in opposition to “a regime that’s the best ever menace to Indian democracy and civil liberties”.
“Although I carried on my job in parliament with fervour, I grew to become more and more disillusioned because the state authorities appeared fairly unconcerned about corruption and the rising strong-arm techniques of a piece of leaders,” he stated.
Noting his middle-class way of life, Sircar stated he was amazed to see that a number of elected panchayat and municipal representatives of the TMC acquired massive properties and moved round in costly automobiles.
“This hurts not solely me, however the individuals of West Bengal,” he stated.
“It’s also true that leaders in different events and different states have amassed way more wealth, however West Bengal is unable to simply accept this extravagant corruption and domination. I do know that the current Central regime thrives on the multi-billionaires that it has enriched, and never a day goes after I don’t accuse it of soiled crony-capitalism. I simply can’t settle for some issues, like corrupt officers (or docs) getting prime and high postings. No,” he added.
Referring to the protests over the rape and homicide of the physician, he stated the “spontaneous outpouring of public anger” is in opposition to this unchecked overbearing perspective of the “favoured few and the corrupt”.
“In all my years, I’ve not seen such angst and complete no-confidence in opposition to the federal government, even when it says one thing right or factual,” he stated.
Sircar stated he had “suffered patiently” for a month for the reason that incident at RG Kar hospital, hoping for direct intervention with the agitating junior docs, “within the outdated fashion of Mamata Banerjee”.
“It has not occurred and no matter punitive steps that authorities is taking now are too little and fairly late. I believe normalcy might have been restored on this state a lot earlier, if the caucus of the corrupt docs was smashed and people responsible of taking improper administrative actions punished instantly after the scandalous incident occurred,” he stated.
Sircar stated the agitation was non-political and spontaneous and it was not right to take a “confrontational stand, by labelling it political”.
“They need no politics: they need justice and punishment. Allow us to analyse frankly and realise that the motion is as a lot for Abhaya (identify given to the sufferer) as it’s in opposition to the state authorities and the occasion. This requires course correction instantly or else communal forces will seize this state,” he stated.
Sircar claimed he wrote the letter as he didn’t get the chance to talk privately with Banerjee for months.
“I categorical my gratitude once more for the chance you gave me to lift Bengal’s points in parliament for three years, however I don’t want to proceed as MP in any respect. My dedication to combat corruption, communalism and authoritarianism within the Centre and the States is solely non-negotiable,” he stated.
He stated he would quickly go to Delhi, and provide his resignation to the Rajya Sabha chairperson, disassociating himself from politics.
TMC chief Kunal Ghosh stated the occasion respects Sircar’s determination, and he was hopeful that the management would deal with the problems that had been raised, and take sturdy, clear, and constructive actions.
“We’re additionally conscious of the opposite points Sircar has just lately highlighted and perceive that as an individual of integrity and deep emotion, he’s entitled to reply as he sees match,” stated Ghosh.
The BJP stated it will be unwise for it to remark earlier than Sircar submits his resignation to the Rajya Sabha chairperson.
“This isn’t the primary time, earlier additionally he had expressed his want to resign from the occasion and quit his membership of Parliament. Later he backtracked. Allow us to see what occurs now. But when he actually does so, the individuals of Bengal can be blissful that at the least he had the backbone to face in opposition to the corrupt regime,” BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya stated.