Mamata Takes 'RG Kar Justice Meeting' To Protest Site, Says 'Didi Here To Support Doctors'

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited protesting doctors in Kolkata, expressing support and promising to address their concerns

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (Image: PTI File)

Source : PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a surprise visit to the protest site in Kolkata where the medics are staging a sit-in against over alleged mishandling of the rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar hospital last month. In a move seen as a step to end the impasse between her government and protesting doctors, Banerjee in a conciliatory tone, asked if she could address the doctors. 

Amid slogans of 'we want justice', the Chief Minister told doctors that she respects them and is with them. "I don't care about the post. In my student life, I have been part of many agitations," she said.

#WATCH | Kolkata: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says, "I have come forward by leading the student movement, I have also struggled a lot in my life, I understand your struggle. I am not worried about my position. It rained all night yesterday, you were sitting here protesting, I… pic.twitter.com/uZ7dThEJ77

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"Please listen to me for five minutes and then shout slogans, it is your democratic right. I have been waiting for a long time. Against my security officers' advice, I am here to salute your protests... I know my post is not a big deal, your voice is. It was raining all night and you suffered. I couldn't sleep because I was feeling bad," she added.

The Chief Minister said she after listening to protesting doctors' demands, she will study them. "I do not run the government alone, I will definitely find a solution by studying your demands with senior officials. Whoever is found guilty will definitely be punished. I am asking for some time from you. The state government will not take any action against you (protesting doctors). I request you to return to work... All the work related to the development, infrastructure, security of the hospital has been started and will be done further," the Chief Minister added.

The doctors have been protesting since a trainee doctor was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. Last Tuesday, they began a sit-in outside Swasthya Bhavan, the headquarters of the West Bengal health department.