West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her frustration on Saturday as junior doctors delayed negotiations over the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital incident, where a postgraduate trainee was allegedly raped and murdered. Banerjee, who had scheduled a meeting with the protesting doctors at her Kalighat residence, was left waiting for over 45 minutes as the talks failed to commence due to disagreements over live-streaming the discussions.
Tensions over Live Streaming
The junior doctors, who are demanding justice for the victim and accountability from the administration, arrived late for the scheduled 6:00 PM meeting. The key sticking point was their insistence on live-streaming the talks, a demand Banerjee rejected due to legal constraints. She clarified, “As the RG Kar issue is before the court, we cannot allow live streaming. I will video-record the meeting and provide you with a copy only after permission from the Supreme Court.”
Despite her pleas to avoid further delays and meet indoors rather than staying in the rain, the doctors remained outside, creating a standoff. Banerjee expressed her dismay, saying, “Please don’t insult me like this. I have been waiting for you on three separate occasions, but you didn’t come.”
Doctors’ Demands and Protests
The junior doctors are protesting against the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee at RG Kar Medical College on August 9. Their demands include:
- Justice for the victim and accountability for those involved.
- Action against Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the medical college.
- The resignation of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam.
- Improved security for healthcare workers and an end to the “threat culture” in government-run hospitals.
The doctors have remained firm, refusing to back down until their demands are addressed.
Mamata Banerjee’s Efforts to Resolve the Crisis
In an effort to ease tensions, Banerjee made a surprise visit earlier in the day to the protest site outside Swasthya Bhawan in Salt Lake. She reassured the protestors, saying, “I came to meet you as your ‘didi’ (elder sister), not as the chief minister.” Banerjee promised to look into their demands and take appropriate action if anyone is found guilty.
Despite her personal appeal and assurances that no action would be taken against the doctors, the protestors have remained steadfast, unwilling to negotiate until their concerns are properly addressed.
Stalemate Continues
The stalemate over live-streaming talks has mirrored previous breakdowns in discussions, as a similar impasse occurred during a meeting at Nabanna, the state secretariat, on Thursday.
Mamata Banerjee, alongside West Bengal’s Director General of Police (DGP) Rajiv Kumar, described her visit as a “last attempt” to resolve the crisis. However, the protestors have maintained their position, demanding concrete solutions before ending their agitation.
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