Junior doctors across West Bengal have escalated their protest following the rape and murder at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, rejecting the state government’s invitation to discuss their grievances with a designated team at the state secretariat, Nabanna. The doctors, united under the banner of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF), decided to continue their strike, defying the Supreme Court’s deadline of 5 p.m. to return to work.
The Mamata Banerjee-led government extended an invitation to the junior doctors around 6 p.m., but by then, the doctors had already shifted their protest from their respective medical colleges to Swasthya Bhavan, the state health department’s headquarters in Salt Lake, Kolkata. Minister of State for Health Chandrima Bhattacharya stated that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee waited at the secretariat until 7:30 p.m. for the doctors to arrive, but no representatives turned up.
Speaking to reporters, the protesting doctors expressed their displeasure at the manner and tone of the government’s invitation. “We felt humiliated by how the invitation was sent, and its language,” said Debasish Haldar, a junior doctor from the Medical College Hospital. “The email was sent by the health secretary, the very person whose resignation we are demanding. Moreover, the message addressed us as ‘Sir’. Let the government know that many women are also part of this cease-work.”
Another contentious issue for the WBJDF was the restriction on the number of representatives allowed to meet government officials. “Why only 10 delegates? Representatives from all medical colleges must be allowed to participate,” Haldar added, emphasising the need for broader representation.
The Supreme Court had on September 9, warned the protesting doctors that it would not restrain the state government from taking punitive action if they failed to resume work by 5 p.m. the following day. The court was hearing a plea highlighting the death of 23 patients allegedly due to inadequate medical attention during the month-long strike. “The resident doctors cannot be oblivious to the needs of the general community,” the court had remarked.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also made a direct appeal to the junior doctors to return to work and engage in dialogue with the government. “Most of your demands have already been accepted, including the suspension of some doctors,” she said. “Please join work. You are always welcome to voice your concerns. Bring a delegation of five to ten members, and we can discuss the issues. Give us some time. Be a bit patient. It might not be possible to fulfill all your demands, but please provide service to the people.”
Despite the appeals, the junior doctors remained resolute, marching towards Swasthya Bhavan in Salt Lake. Hundreds of protesters, carrying placards and raising slogans, were stopped by police barricades about 100 meters from the office gate. They squatted on the road, continuing their demonstration, similar to their earlier protest at Lalbazar, the Kolkata Police headquarters.
