"Complete strike if demands are not met...": West Bengal Junior and Senior Doctors Issue Ultimatum to CM Mamata Banerjee

The West Bengal Junior Doctor's Front on Friday issued an ultimatum to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, demanding that she address their ten-point list of demands by Monday. If their requests are not met, the doctors plan to launch a comprehensive strike across all government and private hospitals on Tuesday, October 22.

“If the Chief Minister does not accept our demands by Monday, we will have no option but to call for a complete strike in the health sector on Tuesday," said Dr Debashish Halder.

Currently a section of the protesting junior doctors are on an indefinite hunger strike since October 5. The ten fold list formulated by the junior doctors include demands such as seeking justice for the RG Kar rape and murder case and enhanced security measures in medical facilities. “We have set a deadline: Monday. The CM has to accept all our demands. If not, all senior and junior doctors and every medical association will be forced to strike," added Dr Halder.

Three doctors, Sayantani Ghosh Hazra, Snigdha Hazra, and Arnav Banerjee, remain on an indefinite fast since October 5. “The Chief Minister is not thinking about us even once,” said Dr Sayantani and expressed disappointment over the government’s lack of support.

In a show of solidarity, the junior doctors plan to hold a “justice march” from Sodepur to Dharmatala on Saturday. The hunger strike began with seven doctors, but four have since required hospitalization due to health issues, leaving three to continue the fast. Additionally, junior doctors from North Bengal Medical College and Hospital have joined the protests, with two already hospitalized.​