RG Kar Senior Doctors Mass Resignation
The ongoing doctors’ protest in West Bengal escalated on Wednesday as senior doctors from multiple government-run medical institutions joined the movement, tendering mass resignations in support of junior doctors demanding justice for their colleague, who was brutally raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The protests, which have drawn widespread attention, have intensified as negotiations between the state government and the agitating junior doctors have failed to resolve the standoff.
Failed Negotiations with the State Government
On Wednesday evening, West Bengal’s chief secretary Manoj Pant invited a delegation of junior doctors for talks with the state task force at Swasthya Bhavan. The meeting, initially scheduled for 7:45 PM, began around 9:45 PM. A group of 29 junior doctors attended, along with key state officials, including the home secretary, the director-general of police (DGP), and members of the newly established grievance redressal committee. However, the discussions failed to bring any breakthrough.
According to Debasish Halder, one of the junior doctors who attended the meeting, “We received verbal assurances, but no concrete action plan. We asked for directives or a timeline for when our demands would be met, but the government refused to commit. They only insisted on ending the hunger strike.” Junior doctors, some of whom have been on hunger strike for over 100 hours, expressed their frustration, with Halder adding, “The government said they would reassess after the Durga Puja festival. We are totally disillusioned.”
RG Kar Senior Doctors Mass Resignation
The protest has gathered momentum, with senior doctors across the state expressing solidarity. On Tuesday, around 50 senior doctors from RG Kar Medical College tendered their resignation en masse. By Wednesday night, the number had swelled to 106 at RG Kar alone. In addition, 19 doctors from Jalpaiguri Medical College, 42 from North Bengal Medical College, 35 from Calcutta National Medical College, and 70 from Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata have also submitted their resignations.
“This is symbolic, a way to show our support for the junior doctors. The healthcare system has not yet been severely impacted, but this sends a clear message to the state government,” said a senior doctor who resigned. The growing list of resignations reflects the deepening frustration within the medical community.
Junior Doctors on Hunger Strike and Rallies Across Kolkata
Junior doctors have been on an indefinite hunger strike since Saturday night, demanding justice for their 31-year-old colleague, who was raped and murdered on August 9. The incident, which took place within the premises of RG Kar Medical College, has shocked the medical community, and the ongoing protests are focused on ensuring justice and improving safety conditions in government hospitals.
In an attempt to raise awareness, junior doctors organized rallies on Wednesday, marching to Durga Puja pandals across Kolkata to gather public support. During the state’s most significant festival, Durga Puja, the doctors distributed leaflets and spoke to thousands of visitors about the ongoing protests and their demands. The demonstrations were met with a mixed response, with police detaining some protesters and moving them to the police headquarters at Lalbazar.
Junior doctors have highlighted that their demands go beyond justice for their slain colleague. “Our demands also include improving hospital infrastructure, increasing security, and addressing corruption in the healthcare system. These changes will benefit everyone,” said a junior doctor, speaking anonymously. They have presented a list of 10 key demands, which include removing the state health secretary, deploying police in hospitals, and investigating the threat culture and corruption within the state’s medical council.
State and National Responses
The ongoing protest has attracted attention at the highest levels. On Wednesday, West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose visited the junior doctors on hunger strike in Esplanade, expressing concern over their deteriorating health and inquiring about their demands. The governor’s involvement has added pressure on the state government to find a resolution, but so far, no solution has been reached.
Doctors’ associations have also planned marches to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) offices in Salt Lake, demanding faster progress in the investigation. The CBI is handling the case, and on Monday, the agency filed a charge sheet against the prime accused, Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer. The charge sheet, however, did not include allegations of gang rape, which has led to further frustration within the medical community.
“The CBI’s charge sheet is laughable. After 58 days of investigation, they only identified Sanjay Roy as the accused. This is a failure on their part,” said Dr. Biplab Chandra, voicing the sentiments of many who believe more individuals were involved.
Bhaswati Mukherjee, secretary of Nurses Unity, added that doctors have faced ongoing threats even after the RG Kar incident. “We told the CBI that doctors and medical staff still feel unsafe in hospitals. The investigation must continue, and those responsible for creating this culture of fear need to be held accountable.”
The Path Ahead
As the protests continue, the doctors remain steadfast in their demands, vowing to sustain the movement until concrete actions are taken by the state government. The West Bengal medical community has demonstrated a strong, united front, with both junior and senior doctors calling for justice, better security, and systemic changes in healthcare infrastructure.
The state government is facing mounting pressure to address the issue, especially as more resignations and protests loom. With the situation showing no signs of de-escalating, all eyes are on the government to see if they will take decisive action to meet the doctors’ demands and resolve the ongoing crisis.
The events in West Bengal reflect deeper issues within the healthcare system, highlighting the need for reforms and safety measures to protect medical professionals across the country. For now, the doctors’ protests continue to gain momentum, with their voices growing louder in the call for justice and safety.
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