TMC MLA Lovely Maitra Compares Protesting Doctors to 'Butchers'; BJP Asks 'Will TMC Sack Her?'

Kolkata: Trouble mounted for the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) after an undated video of one of its MLAs Arundhuti Maitra, aka Lovely Maitra went viral wherein she can heard referring to the doctors protesting the Kolkata rape-murder case as 'butchers'.  The BJP has circulated the clip featuring Maitra.   

Taking to X, BJP leader Keya Ghosh, shared the video of Lovely Maitra and said, "TMC MLA Lovely Maitra now compares doctors with butchers! Sincerely hope if god forbid Lovely Moitra falls ill, she won't go to any of these 'butchers' for her treatment. Also, did I mention that her husband is an IPS officer serving under TMC Govt?"  

What's In The Video?

"Day by day, doctors are turning into butchers. What are they doing in the name of protest? The poorest of the poor who come from rural areas and cannot afford treatment at private hospitals are suffering due to a lack of medical care in government hospitals. They are not getting any treatment. Are these people humane? Are these people human? Doctors are turning into butchers", the TMC MLA can be heard saying in the purported video.  

Ghosh also shared another segment of Maitra's address, accusing her of threatening the protesting doctors. "The MLA didn't stop at calling the doctors butchers. She even claimed to know how to 'lower' the fingers pointing at Mamata Banerjee," Ghosh tweeted.   
 

Will TMC Sack Maitra?

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala also shared the video of Maitra's speech and attacked the TMC over the contentious remarks. “TMC MLA Lovely Maitra compares protesting Doctors to butchers. She also happens to be the wife of an IPS in Kolkata Police who have been issuing notices and summons to doctors  Why so much hate against protesting doctors? Just because they are holding Mamata Govt and her police force accountable? Udayan Guha, Arup Chakraborthy, Kunal Ghosh, Now Lovely Maitra! Will TMC sack her or defend her like it defended Dr Sandip Ghose?” asked Poonawala.   

Maitra Issues Clarification 

As her remarks sparked controversy, Maitra was compelled to issue a clarification. She stated, "Doctors are gods, and the poor see them as such. However, given the nature of their protest, I hope they continue to be recognized as doctors. Why are they going to Lalbazar instead of the CBI? We also want capital punishment."

Doctors Protest Continues

Despite the Supreme Court's request for them to return to work, the nationwide protests by doctors continue to persist.  Junior doctors of different medical colleges who took out a rally to Kolkata Police headquarters Lalbazar demanding the resignation of police commissioner Vineet Goyal, stayed put at nearby B B Ganguly Street even on Tuesday morning, more than 12 hours after they were stopped from marching further.

The doctors, who were joined by several common people as well as students from other educational institutions spent the entire Monday night on BB Ganguly Street, around half a kilometre away from Lalbazar, to stop them from marching ahead. A huge contingent of Kolkata Police officers remained on guard on the other side of the barricade built with guardrails chained together and locked with padlocks.

The junior doctors had placed the replica of a spine and red roses on the barricade. The replica is to emphasise the duty of the police force to protect citizens, they claimed.

"This was not in our plan. We did not know that the Kolkata Police was so scared that they would put up this 9-feet high barricade to stop us. Our agitation will continue till we are allowed to reach Lalbazar and meet the CP. We will continue sitting here until then," one of the agitating doctors said.

They continued shouting slogans seeking justice and protection for all, including doctors. The doctors started their march towards the Lalbazar at around 2 pm Monday holding placards which displayed illustrations of Goyal with texts calling for his resignation.

They also burnt an effigy of the police commissioner after they were stopped on BB Ganguly street.  They also raised slogans, seeking exemplary punishment for the perpetrators of the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and hospital.

The medics have alleged inadequate steps by the police during its probe into the August 9 rape-murder of the young doctor, before the investigation was handed over to the CBI by the Calcutta High Court.