"Fifth and Final...": Mamata Banerjee invites protesting doctors for talks; Doctors demand 'transparent' documentation

In a bid to break the ongoing impasse, the West Bengal government on Monday issued its "fifth and final" invitation for talks with the junior doctors who have been protesting over the rape-murder of the PGT doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Previously, two meetings with the Chief Minister failed as the junior doctors wanted them to be live-streamed, a demand that the state did not relent to.

In an email sent to the protesting doctors, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant underscored the urgency of the situation, referencing a Supreme Court directive from September 9, which requires the doctors to resume their duties by 5 pm on September 10.

“This is the fifth and final time we are reaching out to you for a meeting between the Honourable Chief Minister and your delegates,” the email stated. “In line with our discussion from the day before, we are once again inviting you to a meeting with the Honourable Chief Minister at her Kalighat residence for a discussion with an open mind," wrote the Chief Secretary.

Pant also highlighted that the meeting cannot be live-streamed or videographed—a key issue that had previously derailed earlier discussions. “We trust that good sense will prevail, and as mutually agreed and as per your statement to the media day before - there will be no live streaming or videography of the meeting, given that the matter is sub judice in the highest court of the country,” the email continued. “Instead, the minutes of the meeting will be recorded and signed by both parties.”

The meeting is scheduled for 5 PM on September 16, 2024, at the Chief Minister’s residence in Kalighat. The delegation that attended the previous discussions is requested to arrive at 4:45 PM. “We look forward to your positive response and a productive and fruitful discussion,” the email concluded.

Previous attempts to hold a meeting between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the junior doctors have faced setbacks. On September 12, the doctors went to the state secretariat Nabanna to meet Banerjee but refused to proceed when told the meeting could not be live-streamed. A video, where Banerjee was seen waiting for the doctors, went viral, and she reported waiting for two hours.

Another meeting scheduled for Saturday failed. Banerjee on Saturday morning unexpectedly visited the protest site at the state health secretariat. Following which, although the doctors arrived at her residence at 6:45 PM, their demand for live-streaming again obstructed the meeting. "You can trust me, I won’t mislead you. Even if you do not attend the meeting, at least have a cup of tea,” she said. The doctors insisted on recording the meeting, and despite Banerjee's invitation, the session did not take place that night.​