Kolkata: The ongoing impasse between the West Bengal government and agitating doctors is likely to end today as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is set to meet a 15-member delegation of medics at her residence this evening. West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant said that Banerjee is scheduled to hold a meeting with junior doctors at her residence at 6pm today.
This comes hours after the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a surprise visit to agitating doctors at the protest site in Kolkata. Following her visit, the medics wrote to Banerjee saying that they are willing to hold a discussion with her to “end this impasse”.
Doctors’ letter to CM after surprise visit
“We are grateful that you have showed an exceptional goodwill gesture by coming amidst us in this adverse weather and shared your thoughts with us. We take this as a welcome step towards our smooth discussion and collective clarity of our five point demands for which we have been protesting peacefully for the last thirty five days. We are more than willing to have a discussion in your esteemed presence with adequate representations and proper transparency as agreed by both the parties,” the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front said in the letter to the CM.
During her surprise visit to Swasthya Bhawan, the headquarters of the state Health Department, where doctors have been protesting since Tuesday over the RG Kar hospital rape and murder case, Banerjee assured the protesters that she would look into their demands and take action if someone is found guilty. “I have spent sleepless nights as you have been protesting on the road amid rains. I assure you that I will study your demands, take action if someone is found guilty…I came to meet you as your ‘didi’ not as Chief Minister,” she said, adding that it was her last attempt to resolve the crisis.