Junior Doctors Present 3 Options After Mamata Banerjee’s ‘Final’ Invitation for Talks

Kolkata: Junior doctors in Kolkata protesting the rape-murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor have replied to the West Bengal government’s “fifth and final” invitation for discussions. The West Bengal Junior Doctors Front highlighted recent CBI arrests related to evidence tampering and highlighted the need for transparency in the upcoming talks.

The state’s Chief Secretary Manoj Pant invited the doctors to a 5 pm meeting at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence. Although the doctors expressed willingness to attend, they requested a neutral “official and administrative” venue.

The junior doctors cited new allegations of evidence tampering against Dr Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College, where the incident took place. The officer-in-charge of Tala police station, Abhijit Mondal, has also been arrested.

The doctors reiterated their demand for videography, proposing alternatives if this was not feasible. They suggested the meeting be recorded by videographers from both parties or at least have the state provide the footage immediately after. They also recommended maintaining written transcripts signed by both sides if recording was not allowed.

Earlier, the state government opposed live-streaming or videography, citing the matter’s sub-judice status and agreed only to provide minutes signed by both parties. The doctors emphasised the importance of transparency, particularly in light of these recent developments.

Chief Secretary Pant stressed this was the last invitation, urging the doctors to drop the demand for live-streaming due to the ongoing legal proceedings. Despite Supreme Court directions to return to work by September 10, the doctors have insisted they will continue their protest until their demands are met.

Tensions between the doctors and the state government have heightened following multiple failed meetings, including a dramatic encounter on September 12, when the doctors declined to meet after being denied live-streaming of the proceedings. Banerjee, who had waited for two hours, called their behaviour “insulting.” Subsequent efforts to hold a meeting at her residence on Saturday also fell through due to the same issue.