The West Bengal BJP has pledged to offer legal support to individuals who are being summoned by the Kolkata Police for criticizing the force's handling of the recent doctor rape-murder case.
Criticism has been directed at the police regarding their management of the horrific incident that occurred at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital on August 9. Further, the emergency department of the hospital was vandalized shortly after midnight on August 14.
Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, announced via a social media post on Sunday night that he is prepared to provide legal aid to those facing harassment for expressing their opinions online, as long as the posts do not breach standards of decency.
Adhikari stated, “I believe that free speech is fundamental to a robust democracy. Therefore, if individuals are being targeted for sharing their views, provided their posts are not explicitly vulgar, I am willing to offer legal assistance at no charge. Please send the notice from the police along with your name and contact information to my email: [email protected]. My legal team will get in touch and provide the necessary support.”
This declaration is notably significant as police have recently been summoning individuals critical of their role in the case. Among those summoned are two esteemed city doctors and veteran Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Sukhendu Sekhar Roy.
Adhikari noted that many social media users are receiving notices under Section 168 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) for their critical posts about the administration's and police's conduct in relation to the rape and murder case and subsequent events.
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