West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday visited the site where the junior doctors have been protesting seeking a resolution to the month-long agitation and promised to consider their demands.
Mamata, accompanied by state Police DG Rajeev Kumar, arrived at Swasthya Bhawan in Salt Lake and offered to consider their demands. Adding that she needed to consult other stakeholders, Mamata added: "I do not run the government alone. I will discuss your demands with the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and the DG. If anyone is found guilty, we will punish them. I request the CBI to complete the investigation soon. Let the guilty be hanged. I am here to say that."
She also expressed concern that the protesters were spending the night on the streets amid the rain. "I came to meet you as your 'didi' (elder sister) not as the chief minister," she said, adding that she too was suffering like the protesters.
"There was a storm all night on Friday. I am also suffering like you. Like you, I too have not slept for the last 34 days. Because, if you are on the road, I have to stay awake as a watchman," Mamata added.
She promised to dissolve all patient welfare societies in the medical colleges in the states. They will be formed anew. "Patient welfare societies of all hospitals, including R G Kar Medical College, will be created afresh. There will be representatives of junior doctors, senior doctors, nurses and police. I have made this decision, It will be made afresh," the Chief Minister said.
The junior doctors have been camping outside Swasthya Bhawan, the headquarters of the state Health Department, since Tuesday with a host of demands, including better security at state-run hospitals and the removal of top officials over the rape and murder of the doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Meanwhile, after the Chief Minister's visit, the representatives of the medics are holding a meeting to decide on the future course of action, according to Ananda Bazaar Patrika online.
The medics said they were willing to discuss with the Chief Minister wherever and whenever she wanted. "This is not a matter of anger or stubbornness. I am willing to discuss with the Chief Minister anywhere. We are taking half an hour. We will go wherever the Chief Minister calls," a representative told reporters.
They are of the view that they need to discuss the five-point demand. "We do not want to compromise on the five points. We can hold discussions at any time. It is great that the Chief Minister came to visit us. We demand to end the deadlock through negotiations now. We request the Chief Minister to accept our demands," they added.