Kolkata Junior Doctors Protest: Mamata Banerjee to Attend Talks on RG Kar Hospital Rape, Murder Case

Junior doctors in Bengal have been protesting following the rape and murder of a colleague last month. The protesting doctors had turned down two previous invitations because the key person was unavailable.

The state invited a delegation of no more than 15 for a meeting with the Chief Minister at her home. However, the junior doctors, who have been holding a sit-in protest, criticized the state for not addressing their concerns.

In response to the first invitation, the doctors stated their intention to send a delegation of at least 30 representatives and emphasized that the meeting should focus on their five core demands. These demands included holding accountable those responsible for their colleague’s rape and murder, as well as the destruction of evidence, and urging strict disciplinary action against a former hospital head who has been arrested.

The government argued that the protests were affecting healthcare services, while the health minister blamed “political forces” for orchestrating the agitation. However, the protesting doctors swiftly dismissed these claims and vowed to continue their protests until their demands were met.

Mr. Pant, in his first letter to the doctors, noted that they had missed the deadline set by the Supreme Court to return to work. The Supreme Court had initially left it to the Bengal government to address the issue.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister and the state government recognize the importance of peacefully resolving the protest to quell public anger over the woman’s tragedy.