অক্সফোর্ড কর্তৃপক্ষকে প্রবাসী ডাক্তারদের মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর বিরূদ্ধে ‘কুৎসা ‘ চিঠি,পাল্টা চিঠি দেশ বাঁচাও গণ মঞ্চের..

পিয়ালি :- আরজি করের প্রবাসী চিকিৎসকের সংগঠন পরিচয় দিয়ে মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর অক্সফোর্ডের বক্তব্য পেশ বানচাল করার চেষ্টা করা হলো। সূত্রের খবর, এই প্রবাসী ডাক্তারদের সংগঠন অক্সফোর্ড কর্তৃপক্ষকে চিঠি লিখে মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর বিরুদ্ধে কুৎসা করার চেষ্টা করেন। এই ঘটনা জানার পর দেশ বাঁচাও গণ মঞ্চের পক্ষ থেকে অক্সফোর্ড কর্তৃপক্ষকে একটি চিঠি লেখা হয়। তাতে বলে হয় যে বাংলার মুখ্যমন্ত্রী অত্যন্ত সাধারণ পরিবার থেকে উঠে আসা এক মহিলা। তিনি শ্রমজীবী মানুষের প্রতিনিধিত্ব করেন বিশেষ করে মহিলাদের কাছে খুবই জনপ্রিয়। তাঁর বিরুদ্ধে এই প্রবাসী ডাক্তাররা যেসব কথা চিঠিতে লিখেছেন তা অধিকাংশই হলো অর্ধ সত্য ও অতিরঞ্জিত। মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় তাঁর নিজের ক্ষমতায় ৩৪ বছরের নিষ্ঠুর ,ফ্যাসিবাদী, দুর্নীতিগ্রস্ত বাম শাসনের অবসান ঘটিয়েছেন। তিনি বাংলার মানুষের কাছে অত্যন্ত জনপ্রিয়, বিশেষ করে মেয়েদের কাছে।এর কারণ তিনি বাংলার সাধারণ মানুষ বিশেষ করে মহিলাদের জন্য বহুমুখী প্রকল্প এনেছেন। তাই আমরা সমস্ত বাঙালি মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের জন্য গর্ব অনুভব করি। তিনি মুখ্যমন্ত্রী হওয়ার পরেও সাধারণ জীবন যাপন করেন। এইভাবে অক্সফোর্ড কর্তৃপক্ষকে চিঠি লেখেন দেশ বাঁচাও গণ মঞ্চ। তথাকথিত প্রবাসী ডাক্তারদের মুখ্যমন্ত্রীকে অপদস্থ করার চেষ্টার বিরুদ্ধে এই চিঠি লেখা হয়। এই দুটি চিঠি আমরা হুবহু তুলে ধরলাম।

 

*To*
*Professor Jonathan Michie*
*President, Kellogg College*
*Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Oxford*
*Kellogg College, 60-62 Banbury Road*
*Oxford OX2 6PN, United Kingdom*

Subject: Grave Concern Regarding the Invitation Extended to Mamata Banerjee

Dear Professor Michie,

We, the Indian expatriate community residing in the United Kingdom, write to you with a deep sense of shock, anguish, and profound disappointment regarding Kellogg College’s decision to invite Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of the Indian state of West Bengal, to address its fellows and members. While we deeply respect the academic ethos and intellectual vibrancy that institutions like Kellogg College upholds, we are compelled to bring to your attention a reality that stands in stark contrast to the ideals of democracy, ethics, and good governance that Oxford has long championed.

Mamata Banerjee is an elected Chief Minister with no criminal convictions against her. From that perspective, we do not object to her being invited in her personal capacity. However, we strongly feel that a person who has repeatedly demonstrated a lack of integrity, insensitivity towards crimes against women, and gross administrative failures does not deserve the honour of addressing a prestigious institution like Oxford University, particularly on topics such as women empowerment and education.

To substantiate our concerns, we would like to highlight specific instances that may not be widely known in Western media.

*1. Fabrication of Academic Credentials*

Mamata Banerjee was exposed in 1985 for falsely claiming a PhD from the University of East Georgia, an institution that does not exist. She had declared that her doctoral thesis was titled “The Impact of Mughal Harem on State and Policies,” supposedly guided by one Dr. Karuna Pada Datta. It was later revealed that both Banerjee and Datta had fraudulent doctorates. The United States Educational Foundation in India confirmed that no such university ever existed.
This blatant act of academic dishonesty remains unapologized to this day, and it would be ironic if a prestigious institution like Oxford were to host her as a speaker while upholding academic integrity as one of its core values.

*2. Disturbing Insensitivity Towards Crimes Against Women*

Mamata Banerjee’s tenure has been marked by a consistent pattern of dismissing or trivializing crimes against women, often protecting perpetrators affiliated with her party.

*Park Street Gang Rape Case (2012):* When a young woman was gang-raped in Kolkata, instead of ensuring justice, Banerjee dismissed the case as *”fabricated”* and *”staged.”* The police officer who investigated and arrested the rapists was penalized and sidelined from duty because her findings contradicted Banerjee’s attempts to suppress the case.

*Nadia Minor Rape and Death (2022):* A 14-year-old girl was raped and subsequently died. Banerjee publicly questioned whether the victim was raped at all, insinuating she might have been pregnant due to a romantic affair rather than acknowledging the crime.

*Shocking Compensation Announcement for Rape Victims:* In an appalling move, Banerjee’s government once declared different compensation rates for rape victims based on their age group, treating sexual assault survivors as mere statistics rather than ensuring justice and support.

For a leader with such a track record to speak on women empowerment at Oxford is not just inappropriate but an outright mockery of the cause.

*3. Political Violence and Suppression of Dissent*

West Bengal under Mamata Banerjee’s rule has seen an alarming increase in politically motivated violence, suppression of opposition voices, and lawlessness.

*Election Rigging and Political Murders:* Democratic processes have been repeatedly undermined through systematic election rigging, with opposition party workers being threatened, attacked, and even killed.

*Sandeshkhali Violence (2024):* Widespread allegations of party-backed atrocities against women, land grabs, and extortion emerged, exposing the culture of impunity her administration has fostered.

*Suppression of Neutral Citizens and Media:* Common citizens and journalists who criticize her government are harassed, arrested, or attacked by her party cadres, creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.

*4. The R G Kar Medical College Incident – A Murder Covered Up*

Recently, a young doctor at R G Kar Medical College was brutally murdered in Kolkata. The government rushed to cremate the body without a second autopsy, ignoring the pleas of the grieving parents and junior doctors demanding justice. Instead of showing sensitivity, Banerjee coldly remarked, “Join the celebrations, how long will you mourn?”—this at a time when the state was gearing up for festive celebrations.

The principal of the medical college, accused of mishandling the case, was rewarded with a prestigious post within 24 hours of resigning, raising serious concerns about government complicity in covering up crimes.

*5. The Systematic Destruction of West Bengal’s Education Framework*

A massive recruitment scam in the education sector under her government resulted in thousands of teaching jobs being sold in exchange for bribes.

The former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee was arrested after millions of pounds worth of cash and property were discovered as part of this scam.

Over 75% of government recruitments were allegedly fixed through bribery, robbing meritorious candidates of their rightful opportunities.

Thousands of schools in rural Bengal now lack basic infrastructure and teachers, leading to a sharp decline in literacy and dropout rates.

Despite these atrocities, Banerjee’s administration is spending public money to defend corrupt officials in court rather than ensuring justice and reform.

*6. Industrial Ruin and Economic Decline*

Banerjee drove out a £1.5 billion investment by Tata Motors in 2008, crippling the state’s industrial prospects and scaring away investors.
Since then, her annual Global Business Summits have yielded no tangible investments, making it clear that West Bengal remains an unattractive destination for serious industrial growth under her leadership.

—

*Final Appeal to Kellogg College*

Professor Michie, we urge you to re-evaluate whether a leader with such a deeply troubling history should be given a platform at one of the world’s most respected academic institutions.

Kellogg College, as part of Oxford, represents integrity, human rights, and intellectual excellence. Honouring Mamata Banerjee with a speaking opportunity at your college contradicts these very values.

If she were to speak about her failures in governance, the suppression of women, the collapse of education, and the economic downfall of West Bengal, it would be an appropriate academic discussion. However, allowing her to speak on women empowerment and education, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, will be a grave disservice to the credibility of your institution.

We hope you will consider our appeal seriously and revoke the invitation extended to Mamata Banerjee in the interest of truth, integrity, and the reputation of Kellogg College.

We remain available should you require any further information or substantiating references regarding our concerns.

*Sincerely* ,
R G Kar Alumni Doc’s Forum in UK