The deliberations took place hours after the chief minister’s visit to the dharna site earlier in the day, which indicated a breakthrough was likely. When the doctors arrived with 30 representatives, they had a videographer with them, insisting on live streaming and videographing, but their demands were once again turned down. And so, the attempt at holding talks was once again derailed — for the second time.
On Sunday, a junior doctor, who was protesting, said that unless their five-point demands are accepted, “we will continue to protest”. “We welcome people to join the protest. We are open to dialogue and looking forward to a resolution,” the doctor said.
For over a month now since the August 9 rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College sparked nationwide outrage and protests, junior doctors in West Bengal have been on ceasework and holding protests.
Amid heavy rain Sunday, junior doctors took out a mega protest march from Central Park to Swasthya Bhavan in Salt Lake, the state health department headquarters; protesters switched on their phones’ flashlights. At the march, some placards read “Arji noi dabi kor” (don’t request but demand). They have been staging a sit-in demonstration at Swasthya Bhavan for last six days over their five-point demands. They also demanded the resignation of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, state Health Secretary NS Nigam and other officials.
“CBI arrests show that we were right and that there is conspiracy to tamper evidence and shield someone. We are here to support their protest,” said a senior doctor, referring to arrests of former principal of R G Kar Sandip Ghosh and Tala police station officer-in-charge Abhijit Mondal in connection with the rape-murder case.
Junior doctor Kinjal Nanda, who took part in the march, expressed disappointment at government’s inaction in addressing their demands, and said, “The infrastructure of various government medical colleges and hospitals is severely underdeveloped. It is unacceptable that people from rural districts have to travel to Kolkata for treatment.” He questioned the government regarding the situation despite the availability of super specialty hospitals in those areas.
At the dharna site Saturday, CM Banerjee told the junior doctors 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 had said, adding that, “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.”
On Sunday, nurses, alumni of various schools, retired army personnel joined in a march from Jadavpur to Gariahat while alumni of around 30 schools in North and Central Kolkata took out a procession from Dharmatala to Shyambazar.
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