In a renewed effort to resolve the ongoing standoff with protesting doctors demanding justice for the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder victim, the West Bengal government has extended an invitation for a crucial meeting, terming it the “fifth and final time.” The doctors had earlier staged protests after their discussions with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached a deadlock over the issue of live streaming the meeting, a demand the CM refused.
The deadlock began last Saturday (September 14) when talks between the Chief Minister and the doctors failed to progress. The doctors had insisted on live-streaming the discussion to ensure transparency, a proposal that the Chief Minister rejected. This led to a standoff, with no resolution in sight as the government refused to budge on the matter.
Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, in a fresh attempt to break the impasse, sent an email to the protesting doctors asserting that live streaming or videography would not be allowed for the upcoming meeting. This communication marks a significant shift, as earlier on Saturday, Chief Minister Banerjee had agreed to video record the meeting and provide the doctors with a copy, pending approval from the Supreme Court. When the protesting doctors consented to this arrangement, Health Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya reportedly intervened and dismissed the discussions, citing that “it was too late.”
In his latest communication, Pant reiterated the government’s willingness to meet but emphasized that the current proposal would be the final outreach. “This is the fifth and final time we are reaching out to you for a meeting between the Honourable Chief Minister and your delegates,” Pant wrote, signaling the government’s growing frustration with the prolonged standoff. The letter invited the doctors to join the Chief Minister at her Kalighat residence for a meeting, urging them to approach the discussion with “an open mind.”
While the government remained firm on its refusal to allow videography, Pant offered a compromise, stating that the minutes of the meeting would be recorded and signed by both parties, ensuring transparency as the “matter is sub judice in the highest court of the country.” This proposal aims to address concerns about transparency without violating legal restrictions.
The meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. today, with the same delegation of doctors who participated in the previous discussions invited once again. Pant’s letter expressed hope for “a productive and fruitful discussion,” emphasizing that the state government is eager to resolve the issue and move forward. However, it remains unclear whether the doctors will accept the invitation, as their earlier insistence on live streaming had been a central point of contention.
The protest stems from the doctors’ demand for swift justice in the shocking rape and murder case involving a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College, a case that has gripped the state and led to widespread outrage.
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