Kolkata doctor murder case: Doctors respond to Mamata Banerjee’s 'final' talks invite, propose three alternatives
PTC News Desk: Junior doctors in Kolkata, protesting the rape-murder of a 31-year-old doctor, have responded to the Mamata Banerjee government's "fifth and final" invitation for talks, emphasising the need for transparency. The West Bengal Junior Doctors Front highlighted recent arrests by the CBI in an evidence tampering case, increasing their concerns about openness in the discussions.
Earlier in the day, Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant had invited the doctors to a meeting at 5 pm at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence in Kalighat. While the doctors expressed their willingness to attend, they preferred the meeting to be held at an official or administrative venue.
Their concerns stemmed from the recent charges against Dr. Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College, where the incident occurred, and Tala police station officer-in-charge, Abhijit Mondal, who were both arrested for tampering with evidence.
In their response, the junior doctors reiterated their demand for the meeting to be videographed by separate videographers from both sides. They proposed alternatives if this wasn’t feasible, such as providing the recording immediately after the meeting or ensuring both parties take and sign full transcripts of the proceedings.
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Previously, the state government had refused live-streaming due to the matter being sub-judice, but had agreed to provide a signed copy of the meeting minutes after the Supreme Court's permission.
The doctors stressed the need for transparency, adding, "These new developments make transparency even more important than before." They asked the state to respond promptly to their suggestions and expressed hope for a positive outcome.
Earlier, Chief Secretary Pant had described the invitation as the "fifth and final" effort to engage with the doctors. He reiterated that live-streaming or videography would not be allowed due to the ongoing legal proceedings, but minutes of the meeting would be signed by both sides.
The junior doctors' protest over the August 9 incident includes several demands, such as the removal of certain top state officials. Despite the Supreme Court's directive to return to work by September 10, they have refused to resume duties until their demands are met.
Previous attempts at dialogue have been unsuccessful. On September 12, the doctors walked out of a planned meeting with Mamata Banerjee at the state secretariat when told the proceedings could not be live-streamed. Footage of Banerjee waiting for the doctors circulated widely, with her expressing frustration over the delay.
Another meeting was scheduled for Saturday after the Chief Minister’s surprise visit to the doctors' protest site. However, the issue of videography again caused a standoff. The junior doctors, waiting outside Banerjee's residence in the rain, insisted on recording the meeting, which the government refused, citing the sub-judice nature of the case.
Banerjee personally invited the doctors inside, saying, "You can trust me, I won’t mislead you," and even offered tea. She added that their demands were "insulting" and that she "cannot accept all your demands." Although the doctors later agreed to the meeting, it was called off by state officials, stating it was too late.
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- With inputs from agencies
