Lagatar24 Desk
Kolkata: In a bid to resolve the ongoing strike by junior doctors protesting the rape and murder of a colleague, the West Bengal government on Thursday extended an invitation for another round of talks. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to attend the meeting, which will take place at her residence. This comes after earlier invitations were rejected due to her absence.
Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, in a letter to the protesting doctors, acknowledged their concerns and offered a compromise regarding their demand for live-streaming the meeting. While the state refused live broadcasting, it agreed to record the discussions to ensure transparency. “This will ensure that all discussions are accurately documented,” wrote Pant.
The invitation calls for a delegation of up to 15 doctors to meet Banerjee at 5 pm, signaling the government’s willingness to engage in a dialogue. “The state is always open to discussions with concerned stakeholders,” the letter read. The chief minister had reportedly been waiting for a positive response from the protesting doctors for two days.
The doctors, however, have continued their protest outside the state’s Health Department headquarters, even though senior colleagues have resumed work following a Supreme Court directive. The court had urged the junior doctors to return to work by September 10, but the strike has persisted.
An earlier invitation issued by Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop was rejected, as the protesting doctors demanded his removal from office. A second invitation from Manoj Pant was also turned down due to the absence of Mamata Banerjee and the refusal to live-stream the talks.
The doctors, who initially insisted on a 30-member delegation, have emphasized that their demands remain firm. These include justice for the rape and murder of their colleague, strict disciplinary action against former RG Kar Hospital head Dr. Sandip Ghosh, who has been arrested, and the dismissal of Kolkata Police Chief Vineet Goyal and Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop.
The doctors are also calling for improved security measures in state-run healthcare facilities and an end to the ‘threat culture’ they say is prevalent in these institutions.
The ongoing strike has significantly impacted healthcare services in Bengal, but the government remains cautious in its approach, refraining from directly blaming the striking doctors. Health Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya suggested that political forces were behind the protests, a claim the doctors have strongly denied.
In his letter, Chief Secretary Pant also reminded the doctors of the Supreme Court’s deadline to return to work, emphasizing the duty of law-abiding citizens to adhere to the court’s directions. While the court has left it to the state government to handle the strike, Banerjee has yet to take action, likely aware of the political repercussions involved.
The government hopes that resolving the strike peacefully will help ease public anger over the tragic rape and murder that sparked the protests.
