Kolkata, 16th Sept. Junior doctors in West Bengal continued their strike on Monday, demanding justice for the postgraduate woman doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The doctors, now on their 36th day of cease work and the eighth day of sit-in outside Swasthya Bhawan, remain resolute, calling for the removal of Kolkata Police Commissioner and senior health officials.
“We will continue our cease work till our demands are met. The state government is not serious about resolving the crisis,” a protesting doctor said.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had made a surprise visit to the protest site on Saturday, assuring the doctors that their concerns would be addressed. However, a proposed meeting between Banerjee and the protesters fell through after they were reportedly asked to leave after waiting for three hours at the gates of the CM’s residence.
The junior doctors had agreed to attend the meeting without live-streaming, as requested by Banerjee. However, after informing Minister of State for Health, Chandrima Bhattacharya, of their decision, they were told to leave due to the late hour, according to the protesters.
Previous attempts at talks between the doctors and the Chief Minister had also failed, primarily due to disagreements over live-streaming the meetings and limiting the number of attendees.
The body of the postgraduate woman doctor was found on August 9 in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently investigating the case, following a Calcutta High Court directive.
