In an unexpected move aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict with protesting doctors, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the protest site on Saturday and addressed the medical professionals staging a sit-in.
The doctors’ protest began after a trainee doctor was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata last month. Since then, they have been holding a sit-in outside Swasthya Bhavan, the headquarters of the West Bengal health department. Although there were previous efforts for discussions between the state government and the protestors, these talks stalled over the demand for live streaming of the discussions.
On Monday, Banerjee arrived at the protest site and, amid slogan-shouting, calmly requested the doctors to listen. Speaking in Bengali, she said, “Please listen to me for five minutes and then shout slogans, it is your democratic right to do so. I have been waiting for a long time. Against the advice of my security officers, I have come here to salute your protests.”
Expressing empathy for the doctors, she added, “I have also been part of student movements, I know my post is not a big deal, your voice is. It was raining all night and you suffered. I couldn’t sleep either because I was feeling bad.”
Acknowledging that the protests had been ongoing for over a month, Banerjee urged the doctors to return to work, assuring them that their demands would be taken seriously. She promised to study their grievances and consult with key government officials, including the chief secretary and police chief.
“I want justice for Tilottama (the victim’s pseudonym),” she said, calling on the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to expedite its probe into the case. “If you trust me, come and talk to me, I will look into your demands.”
Banerjee emphasized the urgency of returning to work, pointing out that many patients had suffered due to the ongoing strike. She promised the formation of hospital committees composed of senior and junior doctors to ensure accountability.
“Everyone found guilty will be punished. Please talk amongst yourselves and return to work. I will not take any action,” she reassured the doctors, contrasting her approach with harsher actions taken in other states like Uttar Pradesh.
“I have come to make a request as your ‘didi’ (big sister), not as a chief minister. I support your protest. I had also gone on a hunger strike for 26 days, but no one from the then government came to speak to me,” she added, recalling her past activism.
Despite welcoming Banerjee’s visit, some protesting doctors reiterated their demand for a transparent dialogue, specifically a live telecast of any meetings with the government. “We welcome Mamata Banerjee’s visit. We are ready to hold talks with her. Media is present here. Let there be a transparent meeting with her over our five demands,” one protestor said after the CM’s address.
The protest continues, with doctors awaiting further government action on their demands for justice and reforms in the medical sector.
