According to reports, Ganguly plans to participate in the protests with his wife, Dona Ganguly, emphasizing the gravity of the situation, which has drawn national attention.
The incident has resulted in public demonstrations and an online campaign, with many people changing their profile pictures to black as a symbol of mourning and demand for justice. Ganguly himself has changed his profile picture on the social media platform X to black, aligning with thousands of users in expressing sorrow and calling for accountability.
The alleged crime at RG Kar Medical College has triggered intense public scrutiny and debate about the safety of women in Kolkata and beyond.
Ganguly’s participation in the protests follows his earlier controversial comments regarding the city’s security situation. Initially, Ganguly described the crime as a “stray” incident, which led to backlash on social media where many accused him of downplaying the severity of the event.
In response to the criticism, Ganguly issued a clarification emphasizing his deep concern over the tragic event. “I don’t know how what I said last Sunday was construed or interpreted. I have said it earlier as well that [the crime] is a terrible thing. Now the CBI [and the] police are investigating the matter. It’s very shameful what has happened,” he stated.
Ganguly further called for severe punishment for the perpetrator, expressing hope that the investigation would lead to justice. “I hope that the CBI, who are investigating the matter, once they find the culprit, give strict punishment. The punishment should be such that no one dares to commit such a crime again in their life. That is important. Punishment has to be severe,” he added.