In a dramatic turn of events, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on September 12 announced that she was “ready to step down” in the interest of the people amidst the ongoing protests by junior doctors over the alleged rape and murder at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Banerjee suggested that the protests were politically motivated and aimed at destabilising her government.
Addressing a press conference, Banerjee extended an olive branch to the protesting doctors, assuring them that no punitive action would be taken against them and emphasising the government’s willingness to engage in dialogue. “In the interest of the people, I am ready to step down. I do not want the post of Chief Minister. I want justice for Tilottama, and I want common people to get medical treatment,” she stated, as reported by NDTV.
Banerjee revealed that she waited for over two hours at the state secretariat to meet the delegation of junior doctors, but the meeting failed to materialise. The doctors reached the state secretariat but refused to meet with the Chief Minister, insisting that the meeting be live-streamed. Banerjee explained that the government could not permit live streaming as the matter was sub-judice and currently under the Supreme Court’s consideration.
However, the state government had agreed to all other demands, including allowing a larger delegation of 33 members instead of the initially proposed 15 and accommodating an additional member in the delegation that came to the secretariat. “We had the full system in place to record the meeting for transparency and accurate documentation. We were even ready to share the recording with the Supreme Court’s nod,” Banerjee remarked, lamenting that the lack of agreement on live transmission dashed hopes of a resolution.
Banerjee voiced her concerns over the proliferation of anti-government messages on social media, suggesting that the protests were not purely about justice but had a “political colour” to them. “Our government has been insulted. Common people do not know there is a political colour to it,” she said, pointing to the role of external forces in influencing doctors’ actions.
The Chief Minister further alleged that some members of the doctors’ delegation were under external instructions. “I know many in the delegation were interested in talks. But two or three people were giving instructions from outside. We have evidence of that; the press, standing right behind them, recorded these instructions — ‘Do not negotiate, do not go to the meeting,'” Banerjee asserted.
Banerjee highlighted the severe impact of the ongoing doctors’ strike on healthcare services across the state, stating that at least 27 patients had died due to the lack of medical services at government hospitals over the past month. “An accident patient recently died at RG Kar hospital without treatment… What about his mother and family?” she questioned, underscoring the human cost of the impasse.
Expressing her frustration, Banerjee apologised to the people of Bengal, India, and the world who have been supporting the striking doctors. “I have tried my best to speak to the doctors. I apologise to the people of Bengal, the people of the country, and the world who are supporting them. Please support them. We also want justice — for Tilottama, for the patients of Bengal who are suffering,” she implored.
Meanwhile, the junior doctors accused the state administration of being rigid by not allowing live streaming of the meeting, which they argued was necessary for transparency. The doctors had come to the gate of the secretariat for the meeting that was scheduled to begin at 5 PM but refused to enter after their demand for a live transmission was denied.
The situation remains tense, with no immediate resolution in sight, as both the government and the protesting doctors stand firm on their respective positions.
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