Days after meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to demand the removal of Kolkata police commissioner Vineet Goyal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North Division) Abhishek Gupta, and others, junior doctors have escalated their protest. The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF) sent a fresh letter to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, requesting a meeting to further discuss their demands.
The doctors, who have been protesting since September 18th, have outlined their five-point demands, which include:
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Security in hospitals:
They are demanding a safe environment for medical professionals, citing concerns about threats and violence.*
Development of the healthcare system:
They are advocating for improvements to the overall healthcare infrastructure and facilities.*
Resignation of the state Health Secretary:
They are seeking the resignation of the Health Secretary, citing dissatisfaction with the response to their concerns.The WBJDF, in their letter, emphasized that some of their key demands were left unaddressed in their previous meeting with the Chief Minister. They specifically mentioned their fourth and fifth points regarding the healthcare system’s development, safety, security, and the perceived “threat culture.” The doctors expressed their hope for a special task force, presided over by the Chief Secretary, to address these issues. They requested a meeting with the Chief Secretary and members of the task force to discuss its formulation and function.
In response, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant invited the junior doctors for a meeting at the state secretariat on September 18th. Pant, while appealing for the doctors to return to work, acknowledged the ongoing flood situation in South Bengal. He reiterated the state government’s commitment to address the doctors’ concerns and emphasized the need for their services during the crisis.
Prior to this meeting, on September 17th, the West Bengal government made a significant move by appointing Manoj Kumar Verma as the new Commissioner of Police (CP) of Kolkata Police. Former CP Vineet Kumar Goyal was transferred to the Special Task Force as Additional Director General (ADG). This transfer came amidst criticism of Goyal’s handling of the rape and murder of a doctor at the RG Kar hospital, which had sparked the initial protests.
The Home and Hill Affairs Department of the West Bengal government also transferred five other officers as part of a wider shake-up within the police force. The junior doctors’ continued protest highlights their determination to see their demands met and underscores the urgency of addressing their concerns about safety, security, and the overall state of the healthcare system in West Bengal.
