Women should demand accountability from Mamata Banerjee. The buck stops with her

Women cannot rely solely on the outrage sparked by the Kolkata rape and murder case. A long-term solution is needed to bring systematic change.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee takes out a rally against the incident of rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital | ANI

For the first time, I find myself overwhelmed by a sense of futility after the rape and murder of a junior doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. It feels as though speaking out or writing no longer carries the power to effect change. The knowledge that women before me have cried out, and women after me will continue to do so, all while countless others across generations remain victims, leaves me so dispirited that I struggle to find the motivation to put pen to paper.

But then I remind myself that no matter how exhausting it feels, it’s the need of the hour to do whatever little we can. At this moment, all I can do is raise my voice and use the platform I’ve been given. Especially, when feeling defeated and drained, we must speak out—for the woman who is a victim now, for the pursuit of justice, and for the countless women and advocates of feminism whose fight has made society better and more just for us today. 

The Kolkata rape and murder case not only exposes the deep flaws within our society but also shows how the government and administration have failed to protect women. A change cannot be brought without working on multiple fronts—from political will, to policies, to social reform. 

A grim reality

The more you read into the details of the case, the more it becomes apparent how the hospital administration was prepared to sacrifice one of their own to avoid taking any action. From the hospital administration to the police, nothing functioned as it should, and this case pulled the curtain back giving us a rare glimpse into a grim reality we seldom see. 

But it reveals a disturbing pattern. When a case is high-profile, we get details, outrage, and action. What about the countless others that don’t make the news? Those victims, hidden in the shadows, face neglect and indifference, their stories untold and their suffering ignored. This is not just alarming, it’s a heart-breaking betrayal of trust in a system meant to protect all. 

What’s even more disappointing is that the West Bengal Chief Minister, a woman, is leading protests over this issue instead of delivering justice. Does this highlight her inability to address the problem, or is she more concerned with controlling the narrative? Mamata Banerjee shows that just because a woman is in power doesn’t mean the system has changed. It only proves that the marginalisation of women is beyond a man vs. woman debate; a woman can be in authority and still carry forward the same patriarchal system. Systematic change requires much more than a woman in power. 

Let’s be relentless in demanding accountability from Mamata Banerjee; the buck stops with her. We must keep asking the hard questions. However, let’s not stop there. Let’s also ask similar questions to ourselves as a society, let’s remember that the failure of systems and governance in protecting women transcends all ideological and political groups and does not occur in isolation. 

An analysis of the election affidavits reveals that 151 current MPs and MLAs have declared cases related to crimes against women. We cannot rely solely on activism sparked by one brutal case; a long-term solution to bring systematic change is the only answer.

The root of the problem lies within our society and its values. The anxiety women feel after such incidents is real and pervasive, yet it’s so normalised that society fails to acknowledge the extra stress women endure in public life compared to men. I recall how my sister, once a hopeful professional in the insurance sector, became so disheartened by her experiences that she paused her career to get married. Years later, she found a remote job and rejoined the workforce. 

Disrupting the status quo

Incidents like these not only impact women’s life choices but also give men in our lives and the broader society more reasons, often under the guise of safety, to exert control over women. This dynamic is already contributing to the declining participation of women in the workforce in India. Moreover, one of the worst consequences for victims of sexual assault is the shame directed at them. Countless times, victims remain silent, fearing judgement and the stigma that could affect their families. This fear often prevents them from speaking out and obtaining the closure they deserve.

While we are raising our daughters to be empowered, we should also raise our sons differently as well. Nobody wants to accept that the conversation about rape and rape culture is often framed around the notion of men’s lust, not as an assertion of power. This interpretation suggests that men cannot control themselves due to innate physical needs, and that women should not provoke them. It shifts a degree of blame to women and subtly endorses the entitlement men feel over women’s bodies, reinforcing the idea that male urges justify their actions. 

Finally, and most importantly, we as women must become a vote bank or political power that political parties can’t ignore, as this may be the only way to ensure that our issues are prioritised. We have been daughters, sisters, and mothers; now it’s time we assert ourselves as individuals, prioritising our needs over the roles that society expects us to play. We must raise our voices collectively as a gender and trust in our collective power to claim what is rightfully ours, rather than depending on the privileges of our male relatives. 

Yes, they are our allies, but this is our fight, and while they are welcome to join us, they should not be the ones directing us. Similarly, make no mistake, women who choose to perpetuate such misogynistic systems are our adversaries.

Women must be bold and confront their battles head-on; not all change comes peacefully. Sometimes, disrupting the status quo is necessary. If you believe the success of the suffrage movement was solely due to peaceful protests, you’re mistaken. It was as much the result of peaceful demonstrations as it was of bold actions.

For instance, in 1908, the Women’s Social and Political Union  rallied 60,000 people in an attempt to storm the House of Commons. This serves as a stark reminder of the struggles endured just for us to gain the right to vote. If we have been taught to step aside, now is the time to step forward and be heard. This shift is crucial for real change, empowering us to influence policies directly affecting our lives.

Amana Begam Ansari is a columnist and TV news panelist. She runs a weekly YouTube show called ‘India This Week by Amana and Khalid’. She tweets @Amana_Ansari. Views are personal.

(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)