Junior Doctors' Protest Continues Outside Health Building for Fourth Consecutive Day After Spending Three Nights on the Streets

Kolkata:The protest by junior doctors outside the Health Building demanding justice in the RG Kar case has entered its fourth consecutive day. After spending three nights on the streets, the doctors resumed their demonstrations with renewed vigor on Friday morning. Meetings between the junior doctors and the state government, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, were unsuccessful due to complex conditions. A scheduled meeting on Thursday also failed amid dramatic events and disruptions.

The meeting between the administration and the protesting doctors, held at the state secretariat on Thursday night, ended in failure due to a heavy commotion. Chief Secretary Manoj Pant sent an email to the protesters on Thursday, stating that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would attend the meeting, but it would not be broadcast live. This condition was rejected by the protesters, leading to a stalemate.

After a two-hour wait, Mamata Banerjee left Nabanna, and the protesting doctors returned to the Health Building, declaring that their protest would continue. The doctors stated that they were prepared to remain on the streets for up to 33 more days if necessary. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her willingness to resign and accused the doctors of seeking power rather than justice, while she herself seeks justice.

Prospects for a meeting between Mamata Banerjee and the junior doctors have dimmed. On Tuesday, the doctors received an email from Nabanna calling them for a meeting, which they deemed insulting. Another email came on Wednesday, but the doctors demanded four conditions, including the presence of the Chief Minister and a live broadcast of the meeting. Chief Secretary Pant clarified that the meeting would not be broadcast live, though the Chief Minister would be present. Amid this complex situation, a 32-member delegation of junior doctors went to Nabanna on Thursday evening. Despite Nabanna inviting only 15 people, 32 doctors, including two videographers, arrived. All were allowed into Nabanna’s hall, but the doctors did not enter the meeting due to their insistence on a live broadcast, resulting in the meeting’s failure.

Senior officials, including Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty, and Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, came to negotiate with the doctors, but the doctors remained firm in their stance. The state government subsequently informed journalists that the doctors' conditions would not be accepted. The Chief Minister held a press conference, accusing some of seeking power rather than justice. In response, the protesting doctors clarified that they seek better healthcare facilities and justice, not power. They emphasized that they would continue their protest for up to 33 more days if needed but would not back down.