The junior doctors agitating over the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case in Kolkata on Monday called off their hunger strike after a two-hour-long meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the state secretariat Nabanna.
They also announced to withdraw the proposed complete strike by all doctors, including the senior medical practitioners, which was scheduled for Tuesday.
The protesting doctors, however, maintained after their general body meeting that their “movement” over the issue will continue, reports The Indian Express.
“We will not flee from the battleground. We will continue our fight for justice as well as safety at medical colleges and hospitals,” Asfaqulla Naiya, a representative of junior doctors, said.
News agency PTI quoted Debashish Halder, also a junior doctor, “In today’s meeting, we did get the assurance of some directives, but the body language of the state government was not positive… The common people have wholeheartedly supported us. They, as well as the parents of our deceased sister (RG Kar hospital victim), have been requesting us to call off the hunger strike, keeping in mind our deteriorating health. We are therefore withdrawing our ‘fast-unto-death’ and also Tuesday’s total shutdown in the health sector.”
Earlier, a delegation of 17 junior doctors held a meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at state secretariat Nabanna over the ongoing impasse. At the meeting that lasted about two hours, Banerjee expressed displeasure over the suspension of 47 students at the RG Kar Medical College by the academic council. “Why did the (newly appointed) Principal suspend 47 people? How did you decide? You did not feel the need to inform the state government on this. Do not suspend anyone without investigation. Don’t do what you want. Isn’t it a threat culture?”
On this, Aniket Mahato, a junior doctors’ representative from the RG Kar Medical College, said, “They (the suspended students) all are criminals. They indulged in sexual molestation, extortion, and threats. If they were not suspended, educational culture at the RG Kar Medical College could not be revived. If needed, the state government can assess their performance and then decide. The atmosphere of the medical college campus has been vitiated by these goons under the guise of students. If you recheck their answer sheets, you will see these students don’t deserve to get even pass marks.”
During the talks, held on the 17th day of the ‘fast-unto-death’ by a section of the agitating doctors, which was streamed live, Banerjee urged the junior medics to end their fast, stating that most of their demands had been addressed, rejecting the one on removing the state health secretary.
It was announced in the meeting that the safety of doctors and other staff members will be ensured at medical colleges and hospitals. Also, the CM directed to constitute a state-level 10-member task force with five representatives each from the government and the junior doctors. At least one woman will represent the junior doctors in the task force, it was decided.
The Chief Minister also stressed on transparency in medical examinations, saying, “The government will have to ensure that nobody indulges in any form of cheating. We have information that many students did this for two years. I don’t want to disclose that.”
The junior doctors, on the other hand, requested Banerjee that the state government should publish the investigation details so that people should know how some doctors got promoted or got gold medals even if they do not have the calibre to secure even pass marks, a member of the delegation said.
The junior doctors said they agreed with the state government’s proposal to hold the students’ union elections in March next year. Also, they demanded that different committees at medical colleges and hospitals should have elected, not selected, student representatives.
On the central referral system, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant said, “We have already started a pilot project in South 24 Parganas district. Any suggestions from you (junior and resident doctors) are welcome. We will incorporate those suggestions accordingly.”
CM Banerjee had on Saturday reached out to the junior doctors, saying, “I have removed the (Kolkata) police commissioner, the director of medical education and the director of health services (DHS), but cannot remove everyone…need four months to consider other demands, including elections. Please withdraw your hunger strike.”
The junior doctors had been on a ‘fast-unto-death’ since October 5, calling for justice for the RG Kar Medical College medic, who was raped and murdered on August 9, among the other demands.
The doctors had threatened to escalate their protest by organising a strike of all medical professionals in West Bengal on October 22 if their demands were not met.
The hunger strike was preceded by nearly 50 days of ‘cease work’ in two phases.