Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Santanu Sen was suspended from the party on Friday for alleged “anti-party activities” over his criticism of the government’s handling of the rape and murder case of a doctor at the R G Kar Hospital last August.
A doctor himself, Sen previously served as a councillor in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation before entering the Upper House in 2018. He was in the Rajya Sabha till last year. As spokesperson of the TMC, he was vocal against a section of doctors and the administrators of the state-run health sector following the R G Kar incident and highlighted alleged corruption at the hospital.
In an interview, Sen speaks about his suspension, what is happening in the TMC and the road ahead for him, among other issues. Excerpts:
You have been a councillor and a Rajya Sabha MP. What suddenly went wrong?
I have been in politics since my student days and with the TMC since its inception (1998). Since joining the TMC, I have only been fighting for the party’s greater interests, my government, and my leadership. To my knowledge, I never said or did anything that can be considered anti-party. In fact, in several odd situations, I have strongly defended the party.
Suddenly, I have been accused of being involved in anti-party activities. I do not yet know what anti-party activity I have been involved in.
Following the R G Kar incident, you alleged that a nexus operated within the hospital and also slammed the administration. Did this lead to your suspension?
My wife and I are alumni of the college and my daughter is pursuing her education there. A year-and-a-half ago, when I was made the chairman of the Rogi Kalyan Samity (RKS) at R G Kar Hospital, I found out about large-scale corruption by (former principal) Sandip Ghosh (who was arrested by the CBI).
Without disclosing it to anyone, including the media, I secretly submitted documents to the authorities concerned. I was proved right when Ghosh was later arrested. My daughter faced tremendous mental and emotional torture. She was socially boycotted and harassed by Ghosh and his supporters. Ghosh even tried to fail her through personal intervention.
Despite all this, to help the TMC save face, I kept mum. I did not discuss this with anyone except a few leaders of my party. When the R G Kar incident happened, I tried to stop the movement so that Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) madam could address the issue. While some protesters hurled “go back” slogans at me as I was a TMC leader, a few others were trying to provoke my leadership that I was instigating the movement. This was horrible and painful.
Following this, I tried to withdraw myself from everything and even today I believe some of my “friends and well-wishers” are still misinforming and misguiding the party leadership about me.
But why?
I do not know. Maybe it is because I never wanted to be a part of the nexus run by Ghosh and his superiors. They tried to oust me as they could never get me into their coterie. I strongly believe that a revolution has taken place in the health sector of West Bengal under the leadership of madam Mamata Banerjee. But even today, proper information is not given to her at the proper time, as was in the case of Ghosh.
After you were informed of your suspension, did any senior leaders call you?
I have not received any official information or letter of my suspension. Whatever I came to know is from the media.
What are your plans?
I will think about it. Firstly, I am a TMC supporter and worker. No one can stop me from loving the party, respecting Mamata Banerjee, loving (TMC general secretary) Abhishek Banerjee, and respecting (party state chief) Subrata Bakshi. I will keep doing this.
My other objective is to serve the common people. I am an established doctor and my wife is in the same profession. We took up politics to serve the people and will continue to do it in our capacity.
When you say misinformation, are you indicating there is some discord within the party?
The CM is leaving no stone unturned for the betterment of every section of society in every corner of the state. But for those giving suggestions, guidance and information, I think they should be truthful to themselves and pass on proper and factual information to our leader.
There has been no probe against you so far, yet you have been accused of anti-party activities…
First of all, I do not believe that everyone raided by the CBI or ED is a culprit. With regard to the R G Kar incident, we have seen many persons being raided by the CBI. They were believed to be involved in several illegal activities but not a single incident has occurred with me.
This is the reason I am trying to understand what my anti-party activity was. Even today, whatever I say and do is in the interest of my party and government.
Did you expect such a move from the party?
I am not a robot. I have been with the TMC since its inception and worked in areas which were dominated by Left “hooligans”, who beat me up several times. I did not enter politics straight from the doctor’s chamber. I have put up posters, done wall writing, and addressed rallies. I am grateful that my leadership allowed me to serve as a councillor, Rajya Sabha MP and spokesperson.
During tough situations, when many party leaders were sitting on the fence and refused to take part in activities, there were a few spokespersons who diligently defended the party and I am one among them. I wear the TMC’s jersey and strongly believe it is my moral responsibility to save the party.
After all, I am a human being. The feelings you would have if it happened to you, I feel the same way.
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