Shabana Azmi on Kolkata Doctor case : 'We need to dismantle patriarchy, which is deeply embedded in our society'

Actor Shabana Azmi has voiced her strong condemnation of the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata earlier this month. Speaking to the media after an event in Pune, Shabana emphasized the urgent need to stop treating women as commodities and dismantle deep-rooted patriarchy.

"Such incidents are extremely dangerous. It's embarrassing to see that these kinds of heinous acts have not reduced, even after the formation of the Justice Verma Committee back in 2012 during the Nirbhaya case," Shabana said, as quoted by news agency ANI. "We should not treat women as commodities. We need to dismantle patriarchy, which is deeply embedded in our society."

Earlier on Wednesday, President Droupadi Murmu expressed her deep anguish over the rising crimes against women, particularly in light of the horrific rape and murder of the young doctor in Kolkata. In her open letter titled "Women's Safety: Enough is Enough," she called for collective self-introspection to address the root causes of such violence.

The President stressed the importance of confronting the recurring patterns of criminality against women and urged society to look within and address the underlying issues. The incident on August 9, where a postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered while on duty at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, has sparked widespread protests. People across the country are demanding severe punishment for the accused and increased safety measures for women.

The incident has also drawn reactions from numerous celebrities. Bollywood stars such as Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Vivek Agnihotri, Neena Gupta, Parineeti Chopra, John Abraham, and Ayushmann Khurrana, have all expressed their shock and grief.

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Additionally, prominent figures from the Bengali film industry, including Mimi Chakraborty, Subhashree Ganguly, Riddhi Sen, Saheb Chatterjee, Soumyojit, Arindam Sil, and Madhumita Sarcar, have participated in protests in Kolkata, calling for justice and greater security for women.

ALSO READ: Kolkata Doctor Case: Priyanka Chopra, Hrithik Roshan, Suhana Khan and other celebs stand in solidarity, demand justice for the victim

Shabana Azmi, who was last seen in the 2023 sports drama Ghoomer, directed by R. Balki and starring Abhishek Bachchan, Saiyami Kher, and Angad Bedi, continues to be a powerful voice for social justice. The veteran actress, who made her debut with the critically acclaimed Ankur, has had a distinguished career, with notable performances in films like Arth, Masoom, Mandi, and Fire. Her legacy as an advocate for women's rights and social reform is as enduring as her cinematic achievements.