![[File] Mamata had as lost her cool twice in the past few weeks over people chanting 'Jai Sri Ram' at a few places in the state | Salil Bera](https://img.theweek.in/content/dam/week/news/india/images/2019/6/2/mamata-banerjee-salil13.jpg "[File] Mamata had as lost her cool twice in the past few weeks over people chanting 'Jai Sri Ram' at a few places in the state | Salil Bera")
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a sharp U-turn, mellowed on the doctors protesting in the state. Earlier, an angry Banerjee had warned of strict action against the doctors if they did not resume duty by noon. Around 70 doctors resigned from across the state resigned. Superintendent Saurav Chatterjee and Pricipal Saibal Mukherjee of NRS hospital, where the doctors were assaulted, submitted their resignation.
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Two children died in Sagardutta hospital in kolkata due to lack of treatment.
Police have taken over the security of the hospitals across Kolkata. No patient is allowed to get in. Bengal is plagued with serious health crisis.
The threats did not work. The doctors refused to stop their strike, and closed the gates of two major hospitals in Kolkata. At the same time, in two state general hospitals, on the outskirts of the city, doctors began tendering resignations.
In the evening, a worried chief minister issued a letter to doctor with an appeal: "Respected senior doctors/professors of all MCHs (medical college and hospitals), my humble regards to all of you. Please take care of all patients. Poor people come from all districts. Hospitals must run smoothly and peacefully."
The doctors had earlier visited the Raj Bhavan and given a petition to Governor K.N. Tripathy, who was then holding a meeting with four major political parties in Bengal on the degrading law and order.
The doctors across the state protested, following an assault on two doctors of NRS hospital in Kolkata; a Muslim patient had died, allegedly due to negligence. The relatives of the patients thrashed the medical professionals and the condition of one had turned serious. His skull was damaged. Similar incidents took place in Burdwan hospital as well. Doctors then decided to launch a major offensive and closed down the OPDs (Out Patient Departments).
After 48 hours, Banerjee today went to SSKM, the state's premier hospital, where she had to face irate doctors who demanded justice. In a rage, Banerjee shouted at the doctors, and asked them to re-join immediately. Otherwise, they would face dire consequences, she claimed.
She also saw the hands of BJP and CPI(M) in the agitation. "I give you four hours. If you come back to work, then it's fine. Otherwise, my government will take stringent action," she said.
The Indian Medical Association's Bengal chapter also supported the agitating doctors.
Meanwhile, the BJP asked CM Banerjee to take action against those who attacked the doctors. "Had they been from any other community, they would have been jail now," said Dilip Ghosh, Bengal BJP president.
