Mamata Banerjee with protesting doctors. (ANI)
New Delhi: The ongoing standoff between protesting doctors and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee remains unresolved as discussions stall over the demand for live streaming of a crucial meeting. Junior doctors, who have been on strike for 34 days following the brutal rape and murder of a female trainee doctor on August 9, insist on live broadcasting the talks, a condition that the state government has yet to agree upon.
The doctors' strike began in response to the shocking crime, with the medical community demanding justice and security for their colleagues. Earlier attempts to negotiate a settlement between the chief minister and the doctors failed, including a previous meeting at Nabanna, the state secretariat. On Saturday, Mamata Banerjee personally visited the protest site, reaffirming her government's commitment to apprehending those responsible for the heinous crime. She also proposed a direct meeting with the doctors to break the deadlock.
#WATCH | RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case: The delegation of junior doctors who went to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee leaves from her residence in Kolkata after the meeting between them and the CM failed for the second time.
— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2024
Junior doctors… pic.twitter.com/5XTZCET9PA
Following her visit, a 32-member delegation of junior doctors arrived at Mamata Banerjee’s residence in Kalighat at around 6 pm on Saturday. However, despite being invited inside, the talks stalled over the doctors’ insistence on live streaming the discussions. The delegation remained firm on their demand, citing transparency as the reason for their stance. Appeals from both Mamata Banerjee and Chief Secretary Manoj Pant urging the doctors to reconsider their position were unsuccessful.
#WATCH | RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case: West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant and other officials leave from the residence of CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata after the meeting between junior doctors and CM failed for the second time.
— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2024
Junior doctors… pic.twitter.com/4aybtEoztQ
While the doctors waited outside in the rain, hoping for a breakthrough, the chief minister and her senior officials remained inside, ready to meet. Mamata Banerjee, in another attempt to ease tensions, invited the doctors to come in for talks or at least join her for tea, signaling her openness to dialogue. Despite these gestures, the doctors refused to enter unless their condition for live streaming was met.
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: The delegation of junior doctors who went to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at her residence has demanded live streaming of the meeting. The meeting has not started yet.
— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2024
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee speaks with the junior doctors… https://t.co/xAH5Qji43N pic.twitter.com/0ebIVxSqFO
The deadlock continues, leaving the strike unresolved and the future of medical services in West Bengal in limbo.
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