"I come here as your didi...": Mamata Banerjee Visits Protesting Junior Doctors, Urges Them to Resume Duties

In an effort to resolve the ongoing impasse, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a surprise visit to the Swasthya Bhawan, the state health secretariat, on Saturday. Junior doctors have been protesting in front of the Swastha Bhavan over the rape and murder of a PGT doctor at RG Kar Medical College and have been rallying around their five-point demand for justice. During her visit, Banerjee appealed to the doctors to return to their duties.

“I have spent sleepless nights as you have. I have come down to tell you all- amidst this nature’s fury, you have endured a lot. I request you all to get back to work. If you all resume work then I assure you that I will study and review your demands and take necessary action if someone is found guilty,” Banerjee told the protesting doctors.

The Chief Minister stated that she has come as a 'Didi' (elder sister) to visit the protesting doctors, rather than in her official capacity and expressed her understanding of their grievances. “I understand the purpose of your protest. I was also a student leader. I will give you justice. Seniors (doctors) won't be able to work without your assistance. I urge you to resume work. I assure you that no action will be taken against you,” she added.

Mamata Banerjee announced that all existing patient welfare associations will be dissolved and replaced with new ones. The new organizations will be chaired by the principals of medical institutions and will include representatives from senior and junior doctors, a public representative, and a police official.

In response to the Chief Minister's visit, junior doctors have wecomed her gesture, however, they have stated that their agitation will continue as it has. The representatives of the protesting doctors have expressed their willingness to meet with Mamata Banerjee to discuss their five demands. The doctors will now convene to strategize their next steps and decide on the future course of their action.

The ongoing protest, which has been held outside the state health department headquarters in Salt Lake for five days, continues despite heavy rain. The junior doctors, who began their demonstration on August 9, are demanding the suspension of several officials, including Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and Health Secretary NS Nigam. They accuse these officials of failing to address the RG Kar incident adequately and are calling for increased safety for women health professionals across the state. Despite a Supreme Court deadline for the protesters to resume work by 5 p.m. on September 10, the demonstration has persisted.

Previously, in a bid to break the logjam between the Bengal government and the WBJDF, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called a meeting with junior doctors at Nabanna, the state secretariat. However, the doctors demanded the meeting be live-streamed, a request the authorities declined. After waiting over two hours without progress, Banerjee left. She stated, “We have been waiting for over two hours…Solutions can only be found through dialogues.”