Despite a Supreme Court directive ordering them to resume work by 5 pm on Tuesday, junior resident doctors in West Bengal have vowed to continue their strike. This ongoing protest stems from the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate medic at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, with the doctors demanding heightened security and justice for the victim.
The protesting doctors are seeking the installation of CCTV cameras and increased security measures on the hospital premises. They also demand the immediate arrest of all individuals involved in the crime. “We want our demands to be met by 5 pm, regarding CCTVs and security. We also demand that rapists and murderers be caught. If our demands are not fulfilled, we will continue to protest against the health department,” stated Dr Sumit Singh, one of the protesting doctors, in a statement to PTI.
The protesters have also called for the resignation of the state’s health secretary and the director of health education. The strike, which began over a month ago, has reportedly resulted in 23 deaths, according to the West Bengal government.
Amidst the ongoing crisis, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged the doctors to resume their duties, appealing for a return to normalcy as Durga Puja approaches. “It has been one month (since August 9). Now, I request for everyone to return to preparations for Durga Puja, come back to the festive mood,” Mamata Banerjee stated at a press conference on September 9, 2024.
The Kolkata doctor’s rape and murder case has taken a political turn, further escalating tensions. TMC Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar resigned from the Rajya Sabha on September 8, citing corruption within a section of the party’s leadership and a lack of action against them. The BJP seized on Sircar’s resignation, using it to highlight what they perceive as “dirt, corruption and dictatorial attitude” within the TMC.
Adding to the controversy, the victim’s mother has accused Mamata Banerjee of lying about offering compensation to the family. She refuted the Chief Minister’s denial, asserting that Banerjee had indeed offered monetary assistance after her daughter’s death. “The Chief Minister is lying. My daughter will not return. Would I lie in her name? The Chief Minister told us we would receive money and suggested we create something in our daughter’s memory. I responded that I would come to her office to collect the money once my daughter gets justice,” the victim’s mother told ANI.
