In response to the tragic rape and murder of a young doctor in Kolkata, medical professionals and activists have raised their voices in protest, demanding justice. This harrowing incident has sparked a wave of ‘reclaim the night’ marches across West Bengal, set to take place on the eve of Independence Day 2024. Initially planned for localities such as Jadavpur, College Street, and the Academy areas of Kolkata, the movement has now burgeoned, with various groups extending the initiative to their neighborhoods.
The marches will commence at 11.55 p.m. on August 14, utilizing the symbolic time to spotlight the epidemic of crimes against women. Pranaadhika Sinha Devburman, Chief Trustee of the One Million Against Abuse Foundation, emphasized the importance of this initiative and called for sustained efforts to ensure institutional accountability for protecting students and staff.
Support for the movement is not confined to West Bengal; similar marches are being organized in cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune. Prominent figures, including actors Swastika Mukherjee and Rituparna Sengupta, singer Imon Chakraborty, and various intellectuals, have pledged their participation and voiced their solidarity with the cause.
Despite opposition from some members of the Trinamool Congress, their Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray took to social media to express his support. “Tomorrow I am joining the protesters, particularly because I have a daughter and granddaughter like millions of Bengali families,” he stated, calling for collective resistance against the cruelty faced by women.
As the nation gears up to celebrate Independence Day, these marches serve as a somber reminder of the ongoing struggle for women’s safety and rights. Participants hope to galvanize public awareness and ignite a broader movement toward lasting institutional change.
Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/reclaim-the-night-marches-to-herald-independence-day-in-west-bengal/article68525568.ece
Category : India
Tags:
