Junior doctors have been on strike and protest for the past 34 days demanding justice in the case of rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata. Several attempts to negotiate with the state government to end the agitation have failed. Meanwhile, amid heavy rain in Kolkata on Saturday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached the protest site of doctors protesting in front of Swasthya Bhavan in Salt Lake and appealed to the doctors to call off the strike.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the dissolution of the Patient Welfare Committee of RG Kar Medical College. He also announced the dissolution of patient welfare committees of all state hospitals.
A trainee doctor was raped and murdered at RG Kar Hospital on August 9, the same day junior doctors went on strike. Apart from giving justice to the victim, he demanded security in the government hospital and also complained of corruption. There have been allegations of corruption in all government hospitals in the state, including the RG Kar Medical College.
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CBI is probing corruption in RG Kar Hospital on orders of Kolkata High Court. Sandeep Ghosh, the former principal of the medical college, was arrested in this incident. The agitators have accused the hospital of ‘intimidation’. IMA (Indian Medical Association) has accused Dr. Abhik Dey, Virupaksha Biswas have been suspended. Fingers have also been pointed at patient welfare committees in government hospitals. This time Mamata dissolved it.
The junior doctors have been protesting the Arogya Bhavan since last Tuesday with five-point demands. A three-day meeting with the Chief Minister was scheduled, but it failed. On Saturday, Mamata herself took to the stage and appealed for withdrawal of the movement.
A decision will be taken after discussion, reaction of protesting students
On the other hand, student Aniket Mahato, who is protesting on Mamata Banerjee’s appeal, says that he is not ready to withdraw from the movement now. He said, “The movement will continue in the same spirit as it was going on. We would like to discuss our 5-point demands anywhere. We want to get back to work soon. We are not claiming any wrongdoing. We would like to discuss this demand. We are not yet ready to make any agreement on these 5 points.
Another protester said, “The Chief Minister has proposed. We will discuss ourselves first. We’ll do that later. We always want to discuss. Because we want a healthy solution to this problem.
Welcoming the Chief Minister’s initiative, standing firm on the demand
Another protester said, “I see this move by the Chief Minister as a positive role. They are welcome, but we will not compromise on the five-point demand for justice. The Chief Minister has come, expressed his desire for talks. We appreciate it. We want to break the deadlock. We want him to sit at the negotiating table immediately. We want him to accept our demand. But that does not mean that there are no differences.
Some said we should discuss ourselves first. We will then inform the media about our decision. Another protester said, “We didn’t want Mamata as Didi, because she will come as Chief Minister.” Because the post of Chief Minister is bigger than Didi. And when it comes to discussion, we’re stuck on live streaming.
