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The ongoing political tension between senior Supreme Court lawyer Kapil Sibal and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar escalated on Monday, fueled by a controversial statement regarding the tragic rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Sibal, representing the West Bengal government in the Supreme Court, took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize Dhankhar's condemnation of his earlier remark about the incident being a ‘symptomatic malaise.’
Sibal's retort centered around a Times of India report detailing the number of rape/gangrape cases followed by murder across India from 2017 to 2022. Notably, West Bengal, the state where the tragedy occurred, was absent from the list. He pointed out that Uttar Pradesh led with 280 cases, followed by Madhya Pradesh (207), Assam (205), Maharashtra (155), and Karnataka (79). Sibal's tweet, directed at Dhankhar, questioned: “Seen this? Why West Bengal missing? No malaise?”
Dhankhar's initial criticism stemmed from Sibal's purported resolution issued as the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) that suggested such incidents were ‘commonplace.’ Dhankhar, in a speech delivered on August 30th in Delhi, expressed his deep disappointment and concern, calling Sibal's stance “a shame” and stating that it did “greatest injustice to the high position” he held. While Dhankhar didn't explicitly name Sibal, the target of his criticism was clear.
This latest exchange highlights a growing chasm between the two figures, raising questions about the nature of their political disagreements and the role of the judiciary in responding to social issues. Sibal's decision to use statistics to challenge Dhankhar's claims may be interpreted as a strategic attempt to shift the focus from his earlier statement and cast doubt on Dhankhar's assertion about the prevalence of such incidents in West Bengal. However, the larger context of their conflict remains rooted in differing perspectives on the broader issue of violence against women in India.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the complex interplay of politics, law, and social justice in India. It raises crucial questions about how individuals in positions of power respond to tragedy, the role of public figures in shaping public discourse, and the delicate balance between upholding the law and advocating for social change.
Source: Kapil Sibal responds to VP Dhankhar's criticism for ‘symptomatic malaise’ remark: ‘Seen this?’