Amid the RG Kar impasse, the West Bengal government invited the protesting junior doctors for a meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at her residence on Saturday. This might be the last attempt by the state government to resolve the crisis.
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: A delegation of junior doctors protesting over the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case, arrive at the Chief Minister's residence to attend a meeting with CM Mamata Banerjee regarding their demands. pic.twitter.com/XpD7KWrntt
— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2024
Chief Secretary Manoj Pant in a mail said that 15 representatives of the junior doctors were invited to the meeting.
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: A delegation of junior doctors protesting over the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case, arrive at the Chief Minister's residence to attend a meeting with CM Mamata Banerjee regarding their demands. pic.twitter.com/GMXiKWu1Zs
— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2024
The invite took place after CM Banerjee visited the protesting doctors outside 'Swasthya Bhavan', the state health department headquarters.
The agitating doctors agreed to the meeting and said that they were going to attend it with an open mind.
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: Dr Arif says, "CM Mamata Banerjee came to our protest site. We are happy that the door for discussion and dialogue is open from both sides. For this, we have also sent a mail to the CM office, in which we have told her that we are very happy that… pic.twitter.com/acyOP0vUHM
— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2024
The doctors will be placing before the CM their five demands and they had emphasised that there will not be any compromise on their demands.
ALSO READ | 'Not here as CM, but as your didi': Mamata visits protesters, promises justice
Meanwhile, the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital victim's mother said that the West Bengal CM should be forthright in her comments about action against culprits.
Speaking to the reporters, the victim's mother expressed hope that the discussions between the CM and the agitating doctors would yield results.
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"Instead of merely saying that whoever is found guilty would be punished, she should have been more categorical and direct. Considering the destruction of evidence at the crime scene, and the arrest of only one person, we were expecting the CM to be more forthright," she said.
She also demanded the arrest of all perpetrators and officials behind the 'cover-up'.
"I wish the state government does not take any punitive action against the agitating doctors who are waging a battle for justice," she said.
On Thursday, the West Bengal government invited the protesting doctors for talks again but they did not attend despite reaching the venue as they demanded a live telecast of the meeting which the government turned down.
The doctors have been protesting since a junior doctor was raped and murdered in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.
