RG Kar Rape-Murder: The anger of the doctors in the case of rape and murder of a junior female doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College-Hospital is not coming to an end. After the intervention of the Supreme Court, while the junior doctors of the country’s government hospitals have returned to work after a strike of about 11 days, the junior doctors of RG Kar Medical College are still on strike. From the first day of the incident, these doctors have been sitting on a dharna in the scorching sun and rain with their five-point demands. Seeing the doctors’ dharna going on for several days, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee again called the doctors to her residence for a meeting to find a solution. But due to the demand for live broadcast and video recording, the talks between the Chief Minister and the doctor could not be resolved and the meeting remained inconclusive for the second time as well. Earlier also the CM had called the doctors for a meeting, but this meeting could not be held due to the demand for broadcast.
The meeting failed for the second time
A delegation of 15 junior doctors reached CM Mamata Banerjee’s residence at 6 pm on Saturday evening for a meeting. The doctors’ delegation reached the Chief Minister’s residence in Kalighat with their 5-point demand. The meeting proposal was received from the government through email. Earlier the meeting was to be held in the state secretariat, but later this meeting was shifted to the CM residence. The CM waited for the doctor in her house for about 2 hours, while the doctors’ delegation stood outside the CM residence. After this, Mamata Banerjee came outside the residence and requested the doctor to join the meeting. For about 2 hours, the doctor and Mamata Banerjee stood outside the CM residence with folded hands to convince each other. But the matter remained pending regarding live streaming and the matter did not work out. Secondly, the meeting between the doctor and the CM failed. After this, the protesting doctors left for their protest site.
You should go away from here, the doctor called it an insult
After being thrown out of the CM residence, the doctor said that the state’s Health Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya Sarkar told the doctor that it is too late now, there can be no talks. You should leave from here. The doctor called it an insult and said that it seems as if someone has pushed him out.
Doctors are adamant about live streaming
Mamata Banerjee asked questions to the protesting doctors during this period. In this meeting too, the protesting doctors were adamant about live streaming, to which the CM did not agree. After this The doctors also requested that a videographer be allowed inside the CM’s premises to record the meeting, but the CM did not agree to this either. The TMC supremo cited the ongoing Supreme Court hearing in the case to refuse to keep any official record of the protesting doctors.
Mamata said that since the matter of RG tax is in the court, we cannot allow live streaming. At the same time, the Chief Minister tried to convince the agitating doctors to attend the meeting without live streaming, but it did not work out. The CM told the doctors that the government can record the video of the meeting, but it will not be given. The video will be handed over to the protesting doctors only after taking permission from the Supreme Court. Mamata also told the doctors that all your demands cannot be considered.
Mamata reprimanded the doctors at her residence
The protesting doctors said that they have not come to the CM residence to discuss any matter which is ‘pending in the court’. They alleged that the CM has called them only for a cup of tea. Mamata also reprimanded the protesting doctors. She said that you have ‘insulted’ them, because Mamata Bajpayee had requested a meeting on September 14, but the protesting doctors refused to attend the meeting, for which the CM reprimanded them.
Seeing the protesting doctors, CM Mamata Banerjee forbade them from getting wet in the rain, she gave them clothes. She also asked the doctors why they were not using the umbrellas being given by the security forces around their house.
Mamta met the doctors in the afternoon
Before this meeting, CM Bajrangi visited the protest site of junior doctors in front of Swasthya Bhawan on Saturday afternoon, where she assured the doctors that she will pay attention to their demands and try to fulfill them. Addressing the protesting doctors, the Chief Minister said that she is not able to sleep peacefully even at night, because you people (doctors) are agitating on the road amidst rain. She urged the protesting doctors to return to work and said, “I request you to return to work. She also announced that the Rogi Kalyan Samitis of all government hospitals have been dissolved with immediate effect. I do not run the government alone, I will definitely find a solution by studying your demands with senior officials, whoever is found guilty will definitely be punished.
Statement of the victim’s mother
The mother of the deceased doctor while talking to the media on Saturday said that we want the CM to accept the five demands of the junior doctors and find a solution. I see that the administration, police administration and health department are all guilty in this. We want a quick solution by accepting their demands.
These are the five point demands
Punishment to those responsible for raping and murdering a female trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital on August 9 and destroying evidence
Strict action against former medical college principal Sandip Ghosh
Resignation of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and Health Secretary Narayan Swarup Nigam
Ensuring better protection for healthcare workers
To end the ‘culture of intimidation’ in government hospitals