Kolkata-The stalemate in talks between the agitating doctors and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee continued for the fourth successive day on Saturday. Junior doctors had launched their cease work agitation ever since the rape-murder of a trainee physician at the RG Kar Hospital in the city on August 9.
On Saturday Mamata seized the initiative in the afternoon by making a surprise visit to the protest site outside Swasthya Bhawan in Salt Lake, giving little room to the agitating doctors to skip talk and were forced to send a delegation to CM’s house at night, however they were firm on their demand of live telecast of their talks, to which Bannerjee denied saying the matter is before the court, we can’t allow live streaming.
Greeted with the slogan “We want Justice” as she reached the venue accompanied by the state Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, Banerjee had to wait for some time for the slogan-shouting to abate so she could speak.
Banerjee also said that the request for the meeting on Saturday came from the junior doctors. “In your message, you did not mention live telecast, which you are now saying. Then why did you come? Why are you insulting me? I waited for you,” she said.
I will video record the meeting and provide you with a copy only after permission from the Apex Court, I cannot accept all your demands. Still, if you do not want to have the meeting, at least have a cup of tea. But do not be drenched.” Mamata was quoted saying
The delegation members continued with their argument that since they were representing the other junior doctors who were conducting a sit-in in front of the state Health Department headquarters at Salt Lake, a video recording on their end was necessary.
Finally, the Chief Minister went inside after giving a final call. “Those who want to come inside can come,” she said.
At the time the report was filed, the 30 representatives of the delegation were still assembled in front of the Chief Minister’s residence to discuss their next course of action.
The same issue had derailed the proposed talks at the Secretariat on Thursday.
The proposed meeting came hours after the Chief Minister made a sudden visit to the protest site and the state government issued a fresh invitation to the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Forum (WBJDF), which accepted it.
The bus carrying the delegation of junior doctors reached the Chief Minister’s residence at Kalighat in south Kolkata at 6.40 p.m. – 40 minutes after the scheduled time of 6 p.m. All the 30 members of the delegation were allowed entry although the email invitation sent earlier by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant had capped the size of the delegation at 15.
