Protesting Jr doctors meeting with Mamata Banerjee uncertain after sudden new rules

Uncertainty surrounds the planned meeting between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and junior doctors protesting the rape and murder of their colleague, a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The state government has introduced unexpected conditions that have left the doctors confused and frustrated about the meeting’s potential outcome.

On Saturday, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant sent an email to the West Bengal Junior Doctor Front (WBJDF), outlining several conditions for the meeting. Firstly, the doctors currently on hunger strike must first end their protest before any discussions could take place. Secondly, the number of doctors allowed to attend the meeting would be limited to just 10, and finally, the meeting would last a maximum of 45 minutes. These conditions were surprising to the doctors, as they had not been mentioned in their earlier conversations with the Chief Minister.

Previously, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had made an appeal to the junior doctors to conclude their hunger strike in order to facilitate dialogue. Following her request, senior officials from the state government, including Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Indira Mukherjee, visited the protest site at Esplanade. During this visit, Pant communicated with the Chief Minister, who reiterated her appeal to the doctors via speakerphone.

Debashish Haldar, a prominent leader of the protesting doctors, emphasized the need for written commitments regarding their demands during his conversation with the Chief Minister. Meanwhile, Romelika Kumar, another hunger striker, expressed her disappointment with the government’s response, stating that it seemed they were not taking the situation seriously. She articulated that the directive to return to duty felt distressing, especially given the gravity of their demands.

The junior doctors have been protesting for better safety measures and accountability following the tragic incident involving their colleague. Their key demands include the implementation of enhanced security protocols in hospitals, swift justice for the perpetrator of the crime, and improved working conditions to ensure the safety of medical staff. The WBJDF had also issued a warning to the state government, indicating that if their demands were not met by Monday, they would be forced to initiate a full strike starting Tuesday.