The ongoing protest by junior doctors in West Bengal gained more momentum as an increasing number of senior doctors resigned in support. This development followed Tuesday’s mass resignation of about 50 senior doctors from RG Kar Medical College. Despite these resignations, healthcare services in hospitals and medical colleges remained largely unaffected.
More Bengal Doctors Resign as Junior Doctors’ Protest
In a bid to resolve the situation, West Bengal’s chief secretary, Manoj Pant, invited a delegation of junior doctors to discuss with the state task force at Swasthya Bhavan on Wednesday night. The meeting, which was supposed to start at 7:45 pm, didn’t commence until 9:45 pm. A group of 29 junior doctors participated, alongside high-ranking officials, including the home secretary, director general of police (DGP), and members of the newly formed grievance redressal committee. Despite lengthy talks, no meaningful progress was made in bridging the gap between the protesting doctors and the state.
One of the junior doctors, Debasish Halder, expressed his frustration following the meeting:
“Apart from verbal promises, we received nothing concrete. We urged the government to set a clear timeline or issue directives addressing our demands, but they refused. The only focus seemed to be getting us to end our hunger strike, which has now been going on for nearly 100 hours.”
The state government suggested they would reassess the situation post-Durga Puja celebrations, further increasing frustration among the protesters.
Growing Support and Mass Resignations Across Hospitals
As of Wednesday night, a total of 106 doctors, including senior faculty, from RG Kar Hospital had submitted their resignations. Other hospitals also witnessed similar actions. Nineteen doctors resigned from Jalpaiguri Medical College, 42 from North Bengal Medical College, 35 from Calcutta National Medical College, and about 70 from Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata.
In a collective resignation letter, senior doctors from Kolkata Medical College declared:
“We, the senior faculty members, are resigning en masse in protest against the government’s insensitive stance towards this justified democratic movement and the worsening health conditions of our colleagues on hunger strike.”
Indefinite Hunger Strike and Public Demonstrations
Junior doctors, who have been on an indefinite hunger strike since Saturday night, have organized rallies throughout Kolkata to raise awareness. The protest, driven by demands for justice following the horrific rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at RG Kar hospital on August 9, saw participants visiting Durga Puja pandals to draw attention to their cause.
However, tensions escalated when police detained some of the protestors during one such rally, taking them to the headquarters at Lalbazar. When the group attempted to march towards the police headquarters, they were stopped by authorities on Bentinck Street, leading them to stage a sit-in protest on the road.
Governor Steps In, Meets With Fasting Doctors
West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose met with the protesting junior doctors in Esplanade to check on their health, as they had been fasting for several days. Seven of the striking junior doctors spoke with the governor about their demands and ongoing concerns.
In addition to their hunger strike, the junior doctors planned to visit 12 Durga Puja pandals to distribute leaflets and engage with citizens to explain their demands. These demands include not only justice for the murdered doctor but also the strengthening of security and infrastructure in government hospitals.
Doctors’ Demands and Government Response
The protesters have put forth a list of 10 demands, including:
- Justice for the victim of the RG Kar incident
- The removal of the state health secretary
- Deployment of police at hospitals
- Investigations into the culture of threats and corruption within the State Medical Council
Doctors’ associations are also preparing to march to the CGO Complex in Salt Lake, where the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has its offices. The CBI is currently leading the investigation into the rape and murder case and faces mounting pressure to expedite their work.
CBI’s Investigation Faces Criticism
Earlier this week, the CBI filed a charge sheet accusing Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, of rape and murder. However, the charge sheet disappointed many, as it pointed to Roy as the sole perpetrator and dismissed the possibility of gang rape. This conclusion has left doctors like Dr. Biplab Chandra feeling frustrated.
“After nearly two months of investigation, the CBI’s findings are both disappointing and laughable. It’s shocking that Sanjay Roy is the only person they have charged,” Chandra said.
A delegation met with CBI officials to discuss the case further. Bhaswati Mukherjee, secretary of Nurses Unity, stated that junior doctors still feel unsafe at their workplaces, even after the tragic incident at RG Kar Hospital. The CBI assured them that investigations were ongoing and that the agency had not closed the case yet.
Protests Continue Amid Growing Concerns for Safety
Despite the reassurances, the protests are expected to continue, as the junior doctors remain determined to address the more significant issues of safety and corruption within the healthcare system in West Bengal. Their movement, fueled by the need for justice, has gained considerable public attention during the festive Durga Puja season.
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