‘Bengal is gripped by corruption, many mistakes were made in RG tax case’, said Jawahar Sarkar after resigning from TMC

Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Jawahar Sarkar has resigned in protest against the brutality with a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital. He wrote a letter to party supremo Mamata Banerjee saying that I have decided to leave my post. Talking to Aaj Tak, Sarkar said that the disease of corruption has gripped Bengal.

‘Talks with party leadership were inconclusive’

Talking to Aaj Tak, Jawahar Sarkar said that I observed everything like a disciplined MP for almost a month and remained calm. I feel that a lot of mistakes are being made in handling the situation and now it has become very complicated. I also tried to talk to the party leadership but nothing worked out.

He said, ‘This case is a setback for the democratic forces in Bengal. If they do not change the course of action, they will have to face the reality, which can be dominated by communal parties.’

‘I stand by my principles’

Jawahar Sarkar said, ‘I stand by my principles. I am resigning as a Rajya Sabha MP but this does not mean that I am giving up my principles. The movements on the streets should not be taken as a political confrontation. I am moving among the people, this is a spontaneous anger and movement.’

He said, ‘The disease of corruption has gripped Bengal and Bengal is not in a position to accept it. Please try to understand that the people of Bengal are unable to digest this amount of corruption. After that letter I wrote to the CM, we had a conversation but that is personal.’

Letter written to Mamta Banerjee

Jawahar Sarkar wrote a letter to Mamata Banerjee saying that he hoped that she would take immediate strict action on the atrocities that took place in RG Kar Hospital. She would take action on this like the old Mamata Banerjee. But she did not take any concrete action immediately. Even if she took action, it was too late. He expressed hope that peace should be restored in the state soon and the culprits should be given strict punishment.

He said, ‘I am hurt after the terrible incident that happened in RG Kar Hospital and was expecting your direct intervention with the agitating junior doctor in the old style of Mamata Banerjee. But it did not happen.’

In his letter, Jawahar Sarkar said that the current protests in Kolkata that have shaken Bengal are a reflection of public anger against the TMC government’s “uncontrolled highhandedness of a few favourites and corrupt people”.