The Mamata Banerjee government has issued a fifth and final invitation to the junior doctors protesting the rape and murder of a 31-year-old medical student at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The junior doctors have refused to return to work until justice is served and several top officials are removed. Previous meetings between the state government and the doctors were disrupted due to disagreements, particularly over live-streaming the discussions.
Chief Secretary Manoj Pant has emailed the protesting doctors, emphasizing the Supreme Court’s directive for them to resume duties. The letter states:
“This is our fifth and final attempt to arrange a meeting between the Honourable Chief Minister and your representatives. As previously discussed, we invite you once more to meet the Honourable Chief Minister at her Kalighat residence for a discussion. Please come with an open mind.”
Pant highlighted that the meeting cannot be live-streamed or videographed, which was a sticking point in previous attempts to meet. Instead, the minutes of the meeting will be recorded and signed by both parties.
The meeting is scheduled for 5 PM today, September 16, 2024, at the Chief Minister’s Kalighat residence. The same delegation that attended previous discussions is requested to arrive at 4:45 PM.
Earlier attempts to meet with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have led to dramatic incidents. On September 12, the doctors went to the state secretariat, Nabanna, but refused to participate when told that the meeting could not be live-streamed. Videos of Banerjee waiting for the doctors went viral, and she later stated that she had waited for two hours.
A subsequent meeting planned for Saturday was also marred by the dispute over live-streaming. The junior doctors arrived at Banerjee’s residence at 6:45 PM, but continued to insist on live-streaming, leading to a standoff in the rain. Although Banerjee offered to meet them and even suggested having tea, the doctors insisted on a recording of the meeting. The state government refused this demand but offered to record the meeting and provide the recording later, citing the sub-judice nature of the matter. Eventually, the doctors decided to join the meeting, but by then, it was too late, according to state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya and Chief Secretary Dr. Manoj Pant.