West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her willingness to resign for the sake of the people, saying she too wanted justice for the young doctor raped and murdered at RG Kar hospital.
During a press briefing, she apologised to the people of West Bengal for the ongoing impasse with junior doctors, and said that 27 lives had been lost and seven lakh patients were suffering due to their strike.
A visibly frustrated Mamata Banerjee expressed her willingness to forgive the protesting doctors despite the ongoing stalemate. She also apologized to the people of Bengal for the crisis, offering to resign if it would help resolve the situation. Banerjee reiterated her commitment to seeking justice for the murdered doctor and ending the strike.
Banerjee said. “I am ready to resign for the sake of the people as, despite my best intentions and efforts in the last three days, the medics declined to hold talks.”
Banerjee reiterated her commitment to dialogue, asserting that while she desires justice, she will not take punitive action against the agitating doctors. “I will not take action against them…they are young and we will pardon them…I wanted a meeting with an open mind,” she said.
Earlier, a 30-member delegation of junior doctors refused to meet her on Thursday, after their request for a live broadcast of the meeting was turned down by the West Bengal government. The doctors, protesting the alleged rape and murder of a female colleague at RG Kar Medical College, remained outside the meeting venue for over an hour, creating a tense standoff with government officials.
Protests in Kolkata entered the 34th day on Thursday. The Supreme Court’s directive for doctors to resume work remains in effect. Despite Mamata’s willingness to meet with the doctors and the state government’s assurance of a recorded session for transparency, the doctors insisted on a live broadcast.
Chief Secretary Manoj Pant stated that live streaming was not feasible but assured a full video recording of the session. Pant urged the doctors to reconsider, emphasizing the government’s efforts to accommodate their demands.