Kolkata: Addressing an unscheduled press conference Thursday, embattled West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she is “even ready” to leave office “for the sake of justice for the common people”. The remark came hours after a delegation of 30 protesting junior doctors declined to meet Banerjee citing the government’s refusal to live-stream the meeting aimed at clearing up the ongoing logjam.
Three days have passed since the Supreme Court directed junior doctors to resume work following a month-long protest over the gruesome rape-murder of a trainee doctor at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata in August.
Addressing the press Thursday, Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Banerjee said she was not interested in any post, adding, “I waited for three days to meet the junior doctors, they didn’t come but I forgive them, they are young.”
She also claimed 27 patients died in the state over the past month as a result of the ongoing strike by junior doctors. “I hope people understand they (junior doctors) do not want justice but my chair,” said Banerjee.
Junior doctors have put forward five demands: live streaming of their meeting with the government; representation from medical colleges across the state in the meeting; and the resignations of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, the state health secretary, and the director of medical education, for their handling of the RG Kar case.
The state government requested 15 junior doctors to meet with officials, but talks broke down after the government refused to give in to the demand to live-stream the meeting, with Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar terming it an “unreasonable demand”.
After a volley of emails, junior doctors hired a bus Thursday to reach Nabanna, the state secretariat. Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, who attempted to convince the doctors to begin talks, said Mamata Banerjee waited for two hours to hold a discussion since the issue involves public health services but the doctors refused to budge.
They raised “we want justice” slogans and sat on dharna outside the auditorium at the secretariat, while Banerjee waited inside—surrounded by empty chairs—along with junior minister (health) Chandrima Bhattacharya and state home secretary Nandini Chakraborty.
“We are open to hold discussions with the Chief Minister, but we want live streaming. If Supreme Court proceedings and administrative meetings chaired by the Chief Minister can be live-streamed, then why can’t the meeting with us?” asked a junior doctor protesting at the secretariat.
The state government, meanwhile, issued a notice to all government medical colleges seeking the number of junior doctors who have joined work by 2pm, Thursday, ahead of the Supreme Court hearing Friday. “In view of the direction given by the Hon’ble Supreme court of India on 09.09.2024, you are hereby requested to report the number of junior doctors resumed duty as on date as per the attached proforma by 2pm today. Consider this to be extremely urgent,” read the notice, a copy of which is with ThePrint.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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