West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on Wednesday said that the government’s efforts to hold talks with junior doctors protesting over the RG Kar Medical College incident have not been successful. He said that the doctors’ insistence on talks with conditions is not conducive to discussion. The Chief Secretary said in a press conference, “We mailed them even today and requested to meet them. We wanted to tell them what we are planning. Unfortunately their response was not positive. They have sent a mail, demanding the presence of 30 people. No discussion is possible with conditions. We thought we would have an open discussion. This attitude is not right.”
The government is continuously trying to negotiate with the junior doctors over the protest being carried out after the alleged rape and murder of a student at RG Kar Medical College. However, the doctors are adamant on their demands and conditions, due to which no concrete talks have been held with the government. The Chief Secretary appealed to the doctors for an open environment for talks and said that the state government is ready to take steps towards a solution, but it is difficult to hold any discussion with conditions.
Earlier in the day at 3:49 pm, the agitating junior doctors had sent an email to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee seeking time to discuss the impasse. In response to which the government invited them for talks and asked 12-15 representatives to attend it.
Agitating junior doctors on Wednesday sent an e-mail to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee seeking time to discuss the impasse that erupted following the rape and murder of a doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital here last month. In their e-mail, the doctors said they were ready for a meeting “anytime and anywhere”, provided the entire discussion was telecast live, a doctor said.
A junior doctor said, “We have written a letter to the Chief Minister for a meeting, which can be held anytime today or tomorrow and anywhere as per his choice. But, the meeting should be telecast live.” The agitating doctors, who have been protesting outside the state health department office for more than 22 hours, are demanding that Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, state health secretary, Director of Health Education (DHE) and Director of Health Services (DHS) be removed from their posts.
(Input Agency)
