Kolkata – Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal legislator Madan Mitra sparked outrage on Tuesday with insensitive remarks directed at the parents of a young doctor who was raped and murdered at R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata last year.

Mitra reacted to the victim’s parents’ recent statement against the death penalty for the convicted rapist, Sanjay Roy, by suggesting they were more interested in financial compensation than justice. He implied their change in stance was motivated by a desire for a large payout, stating, “They are changing their statements regularly. Do they want compensation for the tragedy? In that case, they should say it directly." He further added that substantial funds had already been raised through the doctors' movement surrounding the issue, suggesting thousands of crores more could be gathered for a "noble cause" if that was their desire.

The victim’s parents have stated their opposition to the death penalty, emphasizing their desire for a thorough investigation to uncover the truth behind their daughter's death. The victim's parents believe further investigation is necessary to expose the individuals who may have played a role in the conspiracy surrounding the crime.

Mitra's comments drew sharp criticism from various quarters. BJP Rajya Sabha member Samik Bhattacharya condemned the remarks as indicative of the prevailing culture within the Trinamool Congress and the West Bengal government. Bhattacharya highlighted the victim's parents' continuous struggle since their daughter's death, emphasizing that money or compensation has never been their priority. He accused the ruling party of attacking the parents because their actions are inconvenient.