The first round of negotiations between the West Bengal government and junior doctors agitating over the RG Kar Hospital issue commenced on Monday evening at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence in Kalighat. This meeting follows four unsuccessful attempts to initiate a dialogue aimed at resolving the ongoing deadlock. A delegation of the protesting junior doctors arrived at Banerjee's residence for the talks, after the state government's previous rejection of the doctors' demands for live-streaming and video recording of the discussions.
After extensive negotiations, the doctors agreed to a compromise, requesting only that the minutes of the meeting be recorded and signed copies provided. This condition was accepted by the state government, with Chief Secretary Manoj Pant confirming that both parties would sign the minutes and distribute copies for clarity.
Kolkata: ‘Cease Work’ Protest Enters 36th Day, Doctors Refuse To Budge On Five Demands
Despite this progress, the doctors maintained their sit-in outside Swasthya Bhawan, the Health Department's headquarters, for the eighth consecutive day, news agency PTI reported. Their ‘cease work’ protest has now entered its 36th day, demanding justice for a doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Hospital, the removal of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and senior state health officials, and improved security measures for healthcare workers.
As they departed from their sit-in at Swasthya Bhavan, the protesters indicated they would be accompanied by two professional stenographers to record the minutes of the ongoing meeting, according to PTI. They reiterated their insistence on meeting their five key demands: accountability and punishment for those responsible for the rape and murder of the postgraduate trainee at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on 9 August, destruction of evidence; stringent action against former college principal Sandip Ghosh; the resignation of Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam; enhanced security for healthcare workers; and the eradication of a threat culture within government healthcare institutions.
On Saturday, Banerjee made an unannounced visit to the protest site and assured the doctors that their demands would be addressed. However, the proposed meeting was disrupted when protesters claimed they were asked to leave unceremoniously after waiting for three hours at the gates of the Chief Minister's residence.