The agitation of junior doctors sitting on a dharna outside the Health Building demanding justice in the RG Kar case continued for the fourth consecutive day on Friday. After spending three nights on the streets, the doctors have once again started sloganeering from Friday morning. The meeting between the junior doctors and the state government cannot be held on Thursday as well due to the complexities of the conditions.
The administration’s meeting with the junior doctors failed once again due to heavy uproar and dramatic developments in the state secretariat on Thursday night. Chief Secretary Manoj Pant sent a mail to the agitators on Thursday, saying that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would also be present in the meeting, but the meeting would not be telecast live. A deadlock arose in the meeting after refusing to accept this condition.
After waiting for about two hours, Mamata Banerjee left Navanna and the agitating doctors returned to the Health Building. She made it clear that their agitation will continue. The doctors said that they could stay on the road for another 33 days if needed. On the other hand, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that she is ready to tender her resignation. While levelling serious allegations against the doctors, he said that the doctors do not want justice for Abhaya but want the chair whereas she (CM) wants justice.
On Tuesday, junior doctors were called for a meeting by Navanna through a mail. The agitators called the mail insulting and another mail came on Wednesday, but the doctors put forward four conditions, which included the presence of the Chief Minister and live telecast of the meeting. The Chief Secretary clarified that the meeting will not be telecast live, but the Chief Minister will be present.
A 32-member delegation of junior doctors left for Navanna on Thursday evening. Although Navanna had invited only 15 people to the meeting, still 32 doctors arrived. Two of them were also videographers and everyone was allowed to enter the auditorium of Navanna, but the doctors did not enter the meeting. The meeting could not take place as they insisted on the condition of live telecast.
Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty, State Police DG Rajiv Kumar and other senior officials came to talk to the doctors, but the doctors remained adamant on their stand. After this, the state government told the journalists that the conditions of the doctors will not be accepted. The Chief Minister also held a press conference and said that some people do not want justice, but the chair of power. In the press conference, the agitating doctors said that they do not want the chair, but better health facilities and justice. They have made it clear that if necessary, they will sit on strike for 33 more days but will not back down.
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