'Fifth and final call': Bengal govt invites junior doctors to Mamata's residence in final bid to end impasse

Junior doctors at the state-run hospital have been on strike since August 9, following the gruesome incident.

In a final bid to end the standoff with protesting junior doctors, West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, on September 16, extended a "fifth and final" invitation for talks with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The protests stem from the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, sparking outrage among the medical community.

The doctors have been invited to CM Banerjee’s Kalighat residence at 5 pm on September 16 for discussions. In the invitation letter, Pant highlighted the government’s willingness to engage in dialogue, stating, "This is the fifth and final time we are reaching out to you for a meeting between the Honourable Chief Minister and your delegates. In line with our discussion from the day before, we are once again inviting you to a meeting with the Honourable Chief Minister at her Kalighat residence for a discussion with an open mind."

The Chief Secretary reiterated that while the government remains open to discussions, live-streaming or videography would not be permitted—one of the key demands from the doctors. He, however, assured that the minutes of the meeting would be recorded and signed by both parties to ensure transparency.

The letter stated, "We trust that good sense will prevail, and as mutually agreed and as per your statement to the media day before, there will be no live-streaming or videography of the meeting, given that the matter is sub judice in the highest court of the country. Instead, the minutes of the meeting will be recorded and signed by both parties".

As of now, the protesting doctors are holding a general body meeting to decide whether to accept the invitation. Their demands include justice for their slain colleague and the live-streaming of talks with Banerjee. The letter also referenced the Supreme Court’s directive for doctors to return to work, urging them to comply with the ruling.

The delegation that attended previous meetings with Banerjee has been asked to arrive at her residence by 4:45 pm. An earlier invitation for talks on September 14 failed to progress after doctors insisted on live-streaming the meeting, a request the Chief Minister did not agree to.

In an unexpected gesture on September 14, Banerjee had visited Swasthya Bhawan in Kolkata to engage directly with the protesting doctors. During her meeting, Banerjee assured them that their demands would be carefully reviewed and that appropriate action would be taken if anyone was found guilty.

"I have come to you as your 'didi,' not as the Chief Minister," Banerjee stated, underscoring her personal involvement in addressing the issue. She reiterated her commitment to resolving the crisis, saying, "This is my final attempt to bring an end to this impasse".

The scheduled meeting, however, did not take place as the doctors stood firm on their demand for live-streaming the talks.

Meanwhile, rallies and protests demanding justice for the murdered doctor have continued to spread across Kolkata. While protests in other states have been called off following the Supreme Court's decision to create a hospital safety task force, doctors in West Bengal remain on strike, vowing to continue until their demands are met.

Government officials have assured that steps are being taken to address concerns, such as improved CCTV coverage, the deployment of female security personnel, better lighting, and enhanced facilities. However, the deadlock persists as protests across the city intensify.

Junior doctors at the state-run hospital have been on strike since August 9, following the gruesome incident. Banerjee made an unexpected visit to the protest site on Saturday, assuring doctors that their concerns would be addressed. She invited them for talks, but the meeting fell through after doctors claimed they were kept waiting for hours and were asked to leave "unceremoniously."

In response to the latest invitation, the doctors have said they would discuss it among themselves before announcing their decision.

"We demanded the live streaming to let the public know about what is happening inside in the meeting. We don't know what is their problem...We demand live streaming of the meeting...Our five demands are very justified...The public is supporting us because we are apolitical and we have not bent down to the pressures of the government...We are ready to compromise but if they don't listen to our demands then there is no point in calling us for a meeting," said a protesting doctor outside Swashthya Bhawan.

Meanwhile, on September 9, the Supreme Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a fresh status report by September 17 regarding its probe into the brutal rape and murder of the postgraduate trainee doctor.

Additionally, the court had urged the protesting doctors to resume their duties by 5 pm on September 10, following a request from senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the West Bengal government. Sibal had suggested that the court consider indicating potential proceedings against the doctors if they did not comply.

The top court, which is hearing a suo moto cognisance case, will resume hearing on September 17.