Junior Doctors Reject Talks With Govt, Protest in Kolkata Continues Despite Supreme Court Deadline; Demonstration shifts to ’Swasthya Bhavan’

Junior doctors on Tuesday intensified their protest and took it to the corridors of Swasthya Bhavan, the state Health Department demanding the resignation of the state health secretary amongst others. Their cease work continued defying the Supreme Court deadline to return to work by 5pm Tuesday evening. As the protest marched in Salt Lake for the demonstration outside the ‘Swasthya Bhavan’, the protesters were stopped 100m ahead of the building. The junior doctors thereafter camped outside the Health headquarters, firm with their deputation that demanded the resignation of health secretary, DME, DHS; resignation of Commissioner of Kolkata Police, Disciplinary action against former RG Kar Principal now arrested Sandip Ghosh , clean up of any rot in all medical colleges and hospitals and the speedy trial in the rape and murder case.

The junior doctors have firmly rejected the Bengal government's latest offer for negotiations. In a bid to de-escalate the situation, Health Secretary had sent an email to the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF) inviting them for talks with senior state administration representatives at the state secretariat Nabanna. However, the junior doctors dismissed this offer, maintaining their position outside Swasthya Bhavan, calling the invitation “insulting”. “The email was sent by the person whose resignation we are demanding (health secretary). The message addressed us as Sir. Let me tell you there are several madams too who are part of the protest. This is insulting”, said Debasish Haldar of Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, addressing the protesting crowd.

Senior minister from the state cabinet Chandrima Bhattacharya, later in the evening held a press conference claiming that the chief minister had waited for long for the delegation of junior doctor for talks. “Mamata Banerjee was in her office till 7.30 pm. She left her office after waiting for the delegation. The impasse can only be solved through talks. The state government is urging the doctors to come forward for talks with the Chief Minister”, said Bhattacharya.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had made an appeal to the protesting doctors on Monday during her administrative meeting, urging them to return two work. The ongoing strike has severely impacted healthcare services across Kolkata, with lack of treatment and timely medical intervention costing more than 20 human lives already, as claimed by the state. The emergency services at several government hospitals have been operating at reduced capacity. The Supreme Court’s intervention aimed to restore normalcy, but with the deadline unmet, the stalemate continues. “Come for talks. Give us sometime. Be a bit patient. It might not be possible to meet all your demands at once. We have met several of your demands already. Please get back to work and provide service to people”, Mamata Banerjee had appealed on Monday.