In a heated and emotional stand-off with junior doctors, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has offered to resign “in the interest of the people.” Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Banerjee expressed her willingness to step down as tensions escalated over the doctors’ ongoing protest. The conflict, sparked by the rape and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar Medical College, has left the state’s healthcare system strained.
Banerjee, who waited for two hours for the doctors’ delegation to meet her at the state secretariat, said she does not want the post of Chief Minister if it compromises public welfare. “I want justice for Tilottama and for common people to get medical treatment,” she stated.
The junior doctors, however, refused to attend the meeting, demanding live transmission of the proceedings, which the government denied due to an ongoing Supreme Court hearing on the matter. Despite accepting other demands, including expanding the delegation to 33 members, the refusal to allow live streaming became the sticking point. The doctors argue that live streaming is essential for transparency, a request Banerjee’s administration did not accept, offering instead to record the proceedings.
“The state administration was adamant about not allowing live streaming,” one doctor told the Press Trust of India, adding that they had hoped for the talks to proceed.
Mamata Banerjee expressed her frustration at the impasse, accusing external forces of sabotaging negotiations. “I know many in the delegation wanted to talk, but instructions were being given from outside,” she said. She hinted at political motivations behind the doctors’ refusal, claiming that some people “do not want justice, they want the chair.”
The standoff began over a month ago following the rape-murder of a doctor, which ignited widespread protests. The junior doctors have demanded accountability from senior officials, including the resignation of Kolkata police chief Vineet Goyal and two senior health department officers. They have also accused the government of trying to cover up the incident and protecting former Principal Sandip Ghosh, who was arrested by the CBI in a corruption case.
Despite the mounting pressure, Banerjee has urged the protesting doctors to return to work, citing the toll on patients. “The people are suffering,” she said, highlighting those in urgent need of care, such as heart attack patients and pregnant women. The state government claims that 27 people have died due to the disruption in healthcare services, although the doctors have rejected these allegations.
As the deadlock continues, Banerjee issued a plea for the resolution of the crisis. “I apologise to the people of Bengal. You thought this matter would be resolved today,” she said. However, she also made it clear that the families of patients affected by the protests could seek answers from the government.
Banerjee’s comments reflect the growing tension between the government and the medical community, with both sides refusing to back down. As the protest stretches into its second month, the state’s healthcare system remains under immense strain, leaving patients caught in the middle of the ongoing conflict.
Sources By Agencies
