Protesting junior doctors write to President, PM a day after talks with Mamata Banerjee failed to take place

The four-page letter has been addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, and has been copied to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar as well as Health Minister JP Nadda.

"We humbly place the issues before your esteemed excellency, as the head of state, so that our unfortunate colleague who has been the victim of the most despicable crime shall receive justice, and so that we, the healthcare professionals under the West Bengal Health department, may be able to discharge our duties to the public without fear and apprehension," the doctors wrote in the letter.

Pointing out that there has been a rise in "institutional threats, violence and vandalism" since the protests began, the doctors said, "Your intervention in these trying times will act as a beacon of light to us all, showing us the way ahead out of the darkness that surrounds us."

The junior doctors' sit-in protests outside state Health and Family Welfare headquarters- Swasthya Bhavan- entered the fourth day on Friday after the efforts to hold a discussion between the protesters and the government on the RG Kar rape-murder incident failed last evening.

The junior doctors refused to enter into a dialogue with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after the government refused to stream the meeting live.

Despite the government asking the protesters to send a 15-member team for the meeting, a 30-member delegation of junior doctors reached the state headquarters Nabanna.

Though the government accepted the 30-member team, it remained firm on denying live streaming but allowed recording of the meeting.

After the doctors refused to participate in the meeting without live streaming, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who claimed she waited for two hours at Nabanna Sabhaghar, accused the protesters of aiming to capture political power and not seeking justice.

"They don't want justice but the chair," Mamata made an explosive claim and went on to say that she is ready to quit for people's interest.

"I am ready to step down in the interest of people... I want justice for Tilottama as well as medical treatment for people," said the Chief Minister at a press conference on Thursday evening.

Mamata claimed she won't be able to livestream the meeting as the matter is subjudice.

In a counter press meet, the junior doctors said, "We are utterly disappointed with what the Chief Minister said. We wanted the talks to happen and will continue to hope for talks as we believe solutions can come only through dialogues."

"The CM said we are like her brothers and sisters but she also said there is politics behind our agitation. We simply demand justice for our sister who was brutally raped and murdered as well as want to clean the healthcare system that is marred by corruption. We also want our safety at work. Until these demands are met, we will continue our ceasework."

The doctors are on a cease work demanding justice over the gruesome rape and murder of a junior doctor in the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last month, an incident that triggered an unprecedented protest in West Bengal.

Contrary to the government's agenda for the meeting, junior doctors have set five key areas which they aim to discuss with the Chief Minister.

While the government is aiming to talk about safety issues in hospitals, the junior doctors' five demands include justice for the victim, disciplinary action against now arrested ex-RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh, resignation of Commissioner of Police Vineet Goyal and two other top police officers, enhancing security at hospitals and elimination of the alleged threat culture.

The junior doctors began their sit-in protest on Tuesday after they were denied entry into Swasthya Bhavan to hand over deputation demanding the resignation of some of the top officials.

The Supreme Court last week had empowered the state government to take action against the protesters if they don't join work by 5 pm on Tuesday, the deadline which was snubbed by the doctors.

The state's counsel, advocate Kapil Sibal had claimed during Monday's hearing that 23 patients have died due to the junior doctors' ceasework.

The senior doctors from various organisations in West Bengal have threatened to go on a ceasework if the state government takes any stringent measure like suspension against their juniors.
 

All images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS