New Delhi: The resident doctors who have been protesting for over a month now, did not meet with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday. Chief secretary Manoj Pant had extended a fresh invitation to the doctors for a meeting at 6pm today, but they did not attend. Instead, they sent an email just minutes before the scheduled meeting, presenting new demands.
‘Meeting should be broadcast live to ensure transparency’
In their email, the protesters specified that the meeting should only take place in the presence of the chief minister and should be broadcast live to ensure transparency about the discussions. Another demand from the doctors concerns the size of the delegation. While the government proposed a delegation of 10-12 doctors, the protesters insist that at least 30 doctors should be included.
The doctors also reiterated their previous demands, which include several resignations, and requested that responses to these demands be communicated.
Chief secretary Pant expressed disappointment, saying that negotiations cannot proceed under such conditions. “We are all educated people, and doctors are also well-trained students. It is disheartening that students are responding to emails in this manner. We hope and believe that these students will comply with the Supreme Court’s directives and return to work soon. We wish for both parties to meet face-to-face and resolve their differences. Today’s meeting was intended to facilitate this, but no one attended,” Pant said.
Minister alleges political motives behind students’ protest
Chandrima Bhattacharya, a minister in the Bengal government, said that political motives may be influencing the incident and the students’ protest. “It is now evident that there are political elements at play in this situation and the students’ protest. They are demanding that the entire conversation be broadcast live and that a larger group participate. We want to assure you that chief minister Mamata Banerjee is open to dialogue and wishes to discuss matters in good faith. However, the students appear to be deviating from the core issue and becoming politically motivated. We want justice for the victim’s family, but the students seem to be straying from this path and are now taking on a political hue,” Bhattacharya said.
Meanwhile, director general of police (DGP) Rajiv Kumar assured that they are prepared to provide all necessary security to the doctors. “We do not wish for this situation to escalate. We are ready to ensure the safety of all doctors. We hope for a return to work and an improvement in health services,” said DGP Kumar.
The doctors have been protesting over the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor in the seminar room of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.