West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the protest site of resident doctors on Saturday (September 14, 2024) in the Salt Lake area, demanding justice for the rape and murder of the medic at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Ms. Banerjee urged the protesting doctors to return to work and assured them that she will not take action against them. The Chief Minister said that the visit was the last attempt by her to placate the protesting doctors.
Protesting doctors welcomed the visit of the Chief Minister, but urged immediate talks. The agitating junior doctors said they would not compromise on their demands, while continuing their sit-in demonstration outside the State Health Department headquarters for the fifth consecutive day on Saturday (September 14, 2024).
Earlier, the junior doctors protesting in West Bengal wrote to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting their intervention in the impasse with the R.G. Kar hospital rape and murder case.
Ms. Banerjee had earlier said “29 precious lives have been lost due to disruption in health services because of long drawn cease work by junior doctors”. She even announced financial relief to families whose kin have died due to “disruption” of health services.
The doctors have been continuing with their strike even as the Supreme Court asked them to immediately return to work by 5 pm on September 10. The top court said the State could initiate disciplinary action against them if they fail to resume work.
Published – September 14, 2024 01:49 pm IST
