Junior Doctors Stand Firm Ahead of Meeting with CM
Junior doctors in West Bengal remain steadfast in their decision to continue their hunger strike, refusing the government’s precondition to end it before meeting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The doctors demand a face-to-face discussion on their 10-point charter of demands before deciding on the strike’s future.
In an ongoing stand-off between junior doctors and the West Bengal government, the doctors have communicated their intent to attend a crucial meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday. However, in a rather defiant tone, they have made it clear via email to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant that they are not willing to comply with a key condition laid out by the government—calling off their hunger strike before the meeting.
The junior doctors, who have been protesting for the past two weeks, assert that their decision to end the hunger strike will be contingent on the outcome of Monday’s discussions with the Chief Minister. “We shall take a call on withdrawing the strike only after the meeting,” they conveyed in their message, clearly unwilling to give in to any preconditions set by the state administration.
Disagreements Over Terms
Earlier, the junior doctors had indicated that they would attend the meeting. However, questions arose regarding who would represent them and how many delegates would attend. These matters were thrashed out in a marathon meeting on Saturday night, with discussions continuing into Sunday morning. Following this, the junior doctors informed the Chief Secretary of their decision via email.
It appears the sticking point lies in a condition placed by the Chief Secretary in an official communication: the hunger strike must be called off in order for the Chief Minister to meet with the doctors. Junior doctor Debashis Haldar expressed the frustration of the protesters, stating, “It has been 14 days since the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary visited our protest site. While we spoke with the Chief Minister over the phone, her responses left us deeply disappointed. It felt as though she still wasn’t fully aware of our 10-point demands, or perhaps she hadn’t been properly informed.”
Haldar went on to say that the doctors had made their grievances clear in their email to the Chief Secretary, and they were ready to reiterate them during Monday’s meeting if necessary. “Accusations have been made about us not attending meetings on time. We reject this notion outright and condemn the attitude of shifting blame onto us,” he added.
The doctors emphasised that they are willing to attend Monday’s meeting, but they will do so without calling off their protest. “We are looking forward to a productive discussion, but should there be no resolution, we will proceed with our planned course of action on Tuesday,” they said. They also hinted that, if necessary, they were prepared to intensify their protest in the coming days.
The Government’s Position
On Saturday, the Chief Secretary, along with Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and other high-ranking officials, visited the hunger strike site at Dharmatala. The Chief Minister had a phone conversation with the junior doctors, during which their 10-point charter of demands was discussed in detail. Mamata Banerjee reportedly listened to each demand and provided her responses. Nevertheless, the doctors had requested an in-person meeting with the Chief Minister, which has been scheduled for Monday afternoon.
In an email sent to the doctors, the Chief Secretary informed them that the meeting would take place at 5 PM on Monday at Nabanna, the state’s administrative headquarters. The doctors were asked to send a delegation of 10 representatives and to arrive by 4:30 PM. However, the message included the contentious condition: only if the hunger strike was called off would the Chief Minister meet them.
The doctors, after a prolonged meeting of their own, replied that while they would attend the meeting, they would not end the hunger strike beforehand. Their stance remains resolute—any decision to lift the protest will be made only after face-to-face discussions with the Chief Minister.
Looking Ahead
As Monday approaches, all eyes are on the outcome of this pivotal meeting. The doctors remain hopeful that a meaningful dialogue will take place, but they have left no doubt that they are prepared to continue their protest should their demands not be addressed to their satisfaction.
One thing is certain: the tension in Kolkata’s medical community is far from over. The ball is now in the Chief Minister’s court, and it remains to be seen whether a resolution can be reached without further escalation. If not, the junior doctors have made it abundantly clear that their protest will only grow more intense in the days to come.
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