Kolkata: The deadlock between the West Bengal government and agitating doctors continued Monday. After the West Bengal government re-invited agitating junior doctors to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence in Kolkata for talks, 30 junior doctors have agreed to meet the Chief Minister at 5 PM. However, the doctors said that they are “willing to join if minutes of the meeting are allowed to be recorded by both parties”.
A postgraduate trainee doctor was raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital while she was on night duty last month triggering nationwide protests and 'cease work' by junior doctors. The Kolkata Police had arrested Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, in connection with the crime.
While the Supreme Court directed the junior doctors to return to work by Tuesday evening to avoid any action by the government, the doctors are continuing their protest. Since Tuesday, the doctors have been protesting outside the Swasthya Bhawan, the headquarters of the Bengal government's health department.
Here are the LIVE updates:
Doctors Firm on Live Stream Demand
At a joint press conference of West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front and some resident doctors of New Delhi, it was alleged that the Kolkata Police 'tampered' with the evidence. The doctors demanded the removal of Kolkata Police chief Vineet Goyal.
Mamata Banerjee's Final Invitation to Protesting Doctors
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has once again invited the agitating doctors for a meeting at her Kalighat residence at 5 pm today. West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant said that this is the "fifth and final" warning from the government and asked the agitating doctors to "come with an open mind".
Doctors' 5 Demands
1. Punishment to all those involved in rape and murder of trainee doctor as well as destruction of evidence
2. Disciplinary action against former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh
3. Resignation of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam
4. Adequate security arrangements for healthcare workers
5. Eliminating 'threat culture' prevailing in government healthcare institutions
West Bengal Government on Live Stream Demand
Pant, however, clarified that live streaming or video recording of the meeting will not be allowed. "We trust that good sense will prevail, and as mutually agreed and as per your statement to the media day before, there will be no live streaming or videography of the meeting, given that the matter is sub judice in the highest court of the country," said Pant.
"Instead, the minutes of the meeting will be recorded and signed by both parties," he added. The last meeting between Banerjee and agitating doctors could not take place on Saturday as the protestors held firm on their demand to live stream the meeting. While CM Banerjee invited the agitating doctors to "at least have tea", they said that they will only have tea after justice is served.
Sealdah Court orders CBI custody of Former RG Kar principal, Tala PS OC till Sept 17
The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate of Sealdah Court on Sunday ordered the police custody of former RG Kar Medical College principal Dr Sandip Ghosh and Tala Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abhijit Mondol to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the rape and murder case at the medical college and hospital on August 9. The court ordered the police custody of both suspects until September 17.