Junior doctors in West Bengal who have been on strike since August 9 after the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee at RG Kar Hospital, described their disappointment with the discussions with the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday. Although the government agreed to the proposed terms of negotiation the dialogue was terminated due to the doctors’ request to webcast or record the meeting, which the doctors rescinded later. But by then, officials said that VOA negotiations are already “too late. ”
On Sunday, the doctors once again reaffirmed their desire to talk but now they demanded that the government should be the first to start it. “We are willing to talk but the initiation has to be made by the admin. ” said Sayantani Ghosh Hazra, a junior doctor.
Reporting has included marches and demonstrations; and the doctors are calling for the apprehension of all the offenders, provision of protection for health care workers, and removal of leadership. They have also criticised the state government how itнам has dealt the case specially involvement of ex police officer Abhijit Mondal and ex-RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh who have been arrested by the CBI.
The junior doctors have not backed down from the fight for transparency in any future negotiations; they are seeking legal advice whether meetings can be streamed live. On the other hand, Indian Medical Association and the Joint Platform of Doctors have urged people to come out of the existing deadlock through a discussion without any hurdles.
