Mamata Banerjee’s Surprise Visit to Kolkata Doctors’ Protest Site: ‘Resume Work, No Action Against You’

Mamata Banerjee’s Surprise Visit to Kolkata Doctors’ Protest Site: ‘Resume Work, No Action Against You’

In a surprise move, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday visited Swasthya Bhawan to address the junior doctors agitating over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor from RG Kar Medical College.

The junior doctors have continued their agitation for five days outside the state health department headquarters in Salt Lake despite relentless rain and a Supreme Court deadline to resume work by 5 pm on September 10.

Banerjee met the protesting doctors during her visit and informed them that her government would look into their demands. “I have spent sleepless nights knowing you’ve been protesting in the rain.

I promise to review your demands and take action if anyone is found guilty,” she assured the doctors. She further said she was there as their ‘Didi,’ not as the Chief Minister, reflecting her personal empathy for their situation.

Banerjee acknowledged their protest when she said, “I understand your cause. I was once a student leader myself. I will ensure justice is served. Your senior doctors need your support, so I urge you to return to work. I guarantee that no action will be taken against you.”

Defying the appeal of Ms Banerjee, junior doctors vowed that without a sufficient discussion, they would not budge from their demands.

They were demanding suspension of key officials for their alleged failure in the RG Kar incident, including Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and Health Secretary NS Nigam, Director of Health Services and Director of Medical Education. They are also demanding better protection and security for women health workers throughout the state.

Also Read: Unexpected visit by Mamata Banerjee to the doctors’ protest site in Kolkata: “Go back to work; I’m not going to interfere”

The agitation by junior doctors, which entered its 17th day on Tuesday, has been marked by deadlines being flouted and not even talks with the state government last week as it refused to accede to the doctors’ demand to live-stream the meeting.

A dead lock continues and the city remains in the vice-like grip of the agitation as much as in the continuing rain.