The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday accused the Trinamool Congress of trying to cover up the Kolkata doctor rape and murder case. Speaking at a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra referred to three questions which he said were raised by the victim's parents. "The questions that the victim's father has laid in front of the nation today are of paramount importance," Patra said.
"Question No. 1, the victim's father says that when the body of the victim was in their house, then DC (Deputy Commissioner) North offered him money. He refused the offer. A person becomes corrupt when he tries to hide something. What was there to hide that Mamata Banerjee's government sent the DC and offered money to the victim's father? What was it that the administration was trying to throw under the carpet?"
Patra raised two other points: that the parents were made to wait over three hours to see their daughter's body, and that they were asked to sign a blank paper after being informed of her death.
"Imagine the father's plight… imagine what he was thinking after learning of his daughter's brutal murder… and, at that time, when her body is still in the house, a District Collector, not a politician, offers money," Patra said.
Earlier this week, the Kolkata doctor's parents had made similar claims. "When my daughter's body was at our home, DC (North) tried to give us some money. We replied accordingly," the father said. He also claimed that a senior police official had made a similar offer. "The police, from the beginning, tried to hush up the case… when her body was handed over, a senior police official offered us money," he added. Both offers were rejected, the father said.
During Friday's press conference, Patra repeated the claims, demanding answers from the state government. "What was it that the administration was trying to throw under the carpet? What was there to hide… that (Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee's government sent the DC and offered money to the victim's father?" he asked.
The Trinamool Congress has hit back, referring to a previously circulated video in which the victim's parents reportedly said no money was offered and there was "no question" of such a bribe.
(With inputs from ANI)