Justice for R G Kar rape-murder, system reform on health minister’s prescription

Kolkata: Kolkata: Several unanswered questions surrounding the RG Kar rape-and-murder case will be revisited and investigated, newly appointed health and family welfare minister Sharadwat Mukherjee said after assuming office on Wednesday.

Mukherjee, the Bidhannagar MLA, said he was delighted that Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari personally announced his name as the state’s health minister.

“The announcement came on the day the country celebrated the 12th anniversary of Narendra Modi’s prime ministership, and that too at the city’s largest Ram Mandir complex. It is a double blessing for me. I will fulfil the responsibility entrusted to me by the people and by the chief minister,” Mukherjee said.

After taking charge at Swasthya Bhavan, the minister said his immediate priorities would be to eliminate corruption and nepotism from the health department.

“Now is the time to correct what went wrong. Whenever I visited Swasthya Bhavan as a member of the opposition, I was pushed out,” he said.

Referring to the RG Kar incident, Mukherjee said the case remained deeply etched in his memory.

“I will never forget the RG Kar rape-and-murder incident. Evidence and information were destroyed. There are still many unanswered questions — who did it, under whose instructions it was done, why it happened and how it happened. Every one of those questions must be answered,” he said.

The minister alleged that all aspects of the case would be examined. “Whether instructions came from Kalighat, Lalbari in Lalbazar, the DC Central, the health department, or whether it happened under the guidance of RG Kar’s Sandip Roy — all these issues must be brought to light. Whoever is found guilty, including those against whom allegations have already been made and who continue to hold positions in Swasthya Bhavan, will have to face the consequences,” Mukherjee said.

He added that the government would review shortcomings across the healthcare system and work towards correcting them.

“It has to be examined how the healthcare system reached its present condition. Issues relating to medical services, patient care and the concerns of doctors will all be looked into,” he said.

Mukherjee noted that the health department comprises multiple verticals, each facing distinct challenges.

“There are issues involving the West Bengal Medical Education Service, health centres, nursing services, private medical colleges, private healthcare infrastructure and the West Bengal Medical Council. Addressing these problems will take time. We will undertake a detailed fact-finding exercise to identify shortcomings and gaps. Once those are identified, corrective measures will be taken,” the minister told TOI.