The development came on a day the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, as well as inspector Abhijit Mondol in connection with the case of the rape and murder of a junior doctor at the institute. The CBI alleges they were involved in disturbing the crime scene, tampering with evidence, violating official rules, criminal conspiracy and misleading investigators.
According to protesting doctors, they reached the chief minister’s Kalighat residence with 30 representatives – twice the number of delegates that her office had invited. They also took a videographer with them, insisting on live streaming and videographing the entire event, but their demands were once again turned down.
“After reaching CM house, we demanded live streaming, but that wasn’t agreed upon. We asked if we could get our videographers to shoot the meeting, but the government didn’t agree to that either. They said someone would record the minutes of the meeting. We asked for some time, but by the time we decided to agree and went back to tell them, they said time was up. Then she went away in her black car and one by one, all officials left the residence,” one junior doctor in the delegation claimed.
The CM, though, appeared to suggest the doctors were being unreasonable. While the doctors were deliberating, she came out of her residence and requested them to have a cup of tea: “Please don’t get drenched in the rain. Why are you not coming in? If you are not ready to enter the meeting, no problem. Please have a cup of tea.”
“We asked for 15 people, you came with 40. Even then, we have made arrangements for you,” she said.
On the contentious point of videography, she said, “If you won’t come in, why write an email (seeking a meeting). You are disrespecting me. I have been waiting for three days. Forget politics. Come, speak for the sake of the people. I will sign the minutes (of the meeting). The video will be released with court permission. Trust me, I won’t mislead you.”
Saturday had started on a more cordial note between the two sides, as Banerjee and West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar met the junior doctors at the dharna site outside Swasthya Bhawan — the state health department. During her visit, Banerjee told them that she would be ready to consider their demands “if they could trust” her, but also added that she “needed time”.
“This would be my last attempt to appeal to you,” she said.
Speaking to the protesters, she said, “I have personally come here to you. I could not sleep last night. I felt the pain. You were sitting on dharna while it was raining last night… I too spent sleepless nights because I’m your guardian”.
“If you return to work, I promise I will study your demands and talk to the officers. If you trust me, give me some time. I will take action against anyone guilty,” she said.
She promised not to take action against the protesters, saying, “We are not the Uttar Pradesh police.”
“We need to probe anyone’s role before we can take action. It cannot be done overnight… No complaint of corruption has come to me. If there is a complaint, we will investigate and give punishment,” Banerjee reiterated.
Afterwards, the junior doctors sent an email to the CM, saying they were “grateful that you have shown an exceptional goodwill gesture by coming amidst us in this adverse weather and shared your thoughts with us”.
“We are more than willing to have a discussion in your esteemed presence with adequate representations and proper transparency as agreed by both the parties. We are eagerly awaiting for your positive response to end this impasse. Kindly let us know the place and time of convention of the meeting,” the email read.
In response to their email, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant wrote on behalf of the state government: “Dear junior doctors, I am in receipt of your email dated September 14. In this regard, you are kindly invited for a discussion with open mind at 6.00 pm today at Kalighat residence of the Hon’ble chief minister, government of West Bengal. A delegation of 15 junior doctors may kindly attend the said meeting.”
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