RG Kar Protest: Amid the impasse between Mamata Banerjee and the protesting Doctors in Kolkata, the senior doctors have extended full support to their protesting juniors. While the state government refused to accept the junior doctors’ conditions over the proposed meeting, the junior doctors, too, have refused to budge from the streets, despite a Supreme Court order.
The protests have continued since the August 9 rape and murder of a junior doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The Supreme Court, while sympathising with the protesting doctors, had asked them to return to duties by 5 PM on September 10. However, the protesters did not relent and continued their protests.
They, in fact, moved the protest to the Swasthya Bhavan in Salt Lake, where the state health department is located. The doctors demanded the removal of several health officials from the state health department. Junior doctors sat in front of the Swasthya Bhawan on Wednesday night as well. While both sides say the door is open for talks, there is no sign of an end to the stalemate.
According to Nabanna sources, Mamata Banerjee said that the state government can take action if the junior doctors do not rejoin work. The sources said that the state government was only giving them some time before taking action.
Meanwhile, senior doctors have extended their support to the protesters. Dr Abhijit Chowdhury said, “They can’t invite us casually by throwing a paper at us. The administration has to relent and admit they made a mistake.” Dr Narayan Bandopadhyay said, “Seniors have always been standing with them. Even if a junior is suspended, we will take up the additional OPD work.”
On the other hand, Minister of State for Health Chandrima Bhattacharya said, “We shall respect the verdict given by the Supreme Court . The Chief Minister did not take any negative steps. I am looking at the procedural matter of following the SC order. This is a question of patient service.”
(With inputs from ABP Ananda.)
