New Delhi: After a series of rapid developments, talks between protesting junior doctors and the West Bengal government failed to occur for the third consecutive day. In response, the doctors wrote to the president and the prime minister and urged their intervention to resolve the deadlock, a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee offered to resign. The doctors have been protesting since August 9 after the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
In a detailed four-page letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, and also sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Health Minister JP Nadda, the doctors said, “ We humbly place the issues before your esteemed excellency, as the head of state, so that our unfortunate colleague who has been the victim of the most despicable crime shall receive justice, and so that we, the healthcare professionals under the West Bengal Health department, may be able to discharge our duties to the public without fear and apprehension.”
The doctors highlighted an increase in “institutional threats, violence, and vandalism” since their protests began and have appealed for the president’s intervention. They said it would serve as a guiding light in the struggle, an NDTV report said.
President Murmu condemns
At the end of August, President Murmu expressed her distress over the incident. She said that she was horrified by the crime. She said, “What is more depressing is that it (the Kolkata rape and murder) was not the only incident of its kind… it was part of a series of crimes against women.” She added, “In the 12 years since Nirbhaya, countless rapes have been forgotten by society. This collective amnesia is obnoxious.”
On Thursday, the West Bengal government extended another invitation to the protesting doctors for talks. However, they refused to attend the meeting, despite arriving at the venue, because their demand for a live telecast of the discussions was not met.
CM Banerjee offers to resign
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, after waiting for over two hours, expressed her willingness to resign. She said that she did not want the position and was ready to step down in the interest of the people. She said, “I know many in the delegation were interested in talks. But two or three individuals were directing from outside. We could see this because it was being recorded by the press, standing right behind… They were instructing—‘Do not negotiate, do not attend the meeting’.”
