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The tragic murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata has sparked widespread outrage and protests from medical professionals in West Bengal. The incident, which involved the brutal rape and murder of a postgraduate doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9th, has ignited a deep sense of insecurity and anger within the medical community. In response to the incident, doctors and medical students have been engaged in a ‘cease work’ strike, demanding improved safety measures and a swift investigation into the crime.
The West Bengal government, seeking to resolve the impasse, invited the protesting doctors for a meeting to discuss their demands and find a way to end the strike. The invitation, sent via email early Wednesday morning, proposed a discussion at the state secretariat, Nabanna, at 6 pm the same day. However, the invitation did not confirm whether Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would be present during the discussion, prompting the doctors to set a number of preconditions before agreeing to participate in the meeting.
The protesting doctors demanded that the meeting be held in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and be telecast live for all to watch. They also stipulated that at least 30 representatives from various medical colleges and hospitals be allowed to participate in the discussion, reflecting the widespread nature of the protests. This demand for transparency and a direct engagement with the Chief Minister reflects the doctors’ deep dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the situation and their desire for a meaningful dialogue to address their concerns.
Source: Kolkata rape-murder case: Agitating doctors demand live telecast of meeting with Mamata Banerjee