Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was greeted by junior doctors who were invited to the state secretariat for a meeting today. In an emotional speech, she said she was not enamoured of the top post in the state and was ready to resign “for the benefit of the people”. She assured the doctors that no action would be taken against them and said the government is always ready for dialogue. Her ire was directed at people who, she hinted, were planning the protest with vested interests.
Pointing to the proliferation of anti-government messages on social media, he said: “Our government has been insulted. Ordinary people don't know that there is a political undertone behind this.”
The people behind the political color, he said, “don't want justice. They want the chair.”
“I am ready to resign for the sake of the people. I do not want the post of Prime Minister. I want justice for Tilottama and I want ordinary people to get medical treatment,” the Prime Minister said at a press conference after waiting for the delegation of young doctors for two hours.
The delegation of doctors had arrived at the door of the secretariat for the meeting which was due to start at 5pm, but they refused to enter because the government had rejected one of their demands: the live broadcast of the proceedings. The prime minister had said that the government could not allow the live broadcast because the matter was being heard by the Supreme Court.
The government had agreed to all other proposals, including the presence of more members, 33 instead of 15, and one more member in the delegation that arrived. As for live streaming, they had said they could not allow it, but that the proceedings would be recorded. But that proved to be the stumbling block for a meeting that many hoped would end the impasse and herald the beginning of normality.
Ms Banerjee said the doctors were just following instructions. “I know that many of the delegation members were interested in the talks, but two of the three people were giving instructions from outside. We have all that. We could see it because it was being recorded by the press, which was right behind… They were giving instructions: 'Don't negotiate, don't go to the meeting',” Ms Banerjee said.
The chief minister waited as the debate continued outside, pointing out that this was not the first time this had happened. Two hours later, at the impromptu press conference, she said: “I apologise for the emotions of the people of Bengal. They thought this matter would be resolved today.”
And with her hands together she said: “I've been sitting here for two hours. I waited yesterday too. Not only me, but also the high officials against whom they complain all the time.”
And they will wait, she said. “Uttar Pradesh, she said, has taken steps. “We also have ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act). But I will not do it. I am not in favour of a state of emergency.”
His only request, he said, is for doctors to return to work, because people are suffering: those who needed heart or kidney operations, those who need immediate care, such as heart attack patients or pregnant women about to give birth.
But there is a dark side to the story: “If the families (of patients suffering because of the protest) want a response from us, we will be ready for it,” he said. The government has already stated that 27 people have died because medical care was affected during the protest, a claim denied by doctors.
“I have tried my best to speak to the doctors. I apologise to the people of Bengal, to the people of the country and the world who are supporting them. Please support them. We also want justice, for Tilottama, for the patients of Bengal who are suffering,” the Chief Minister added.
Today's aborted meeting comes after more than a month of standoff between the doctors and the state government over the rape and murder of a young doctor at the RG Kar Medical College on August 9. The protesting doctors have accused the government of trying to bury the matter and supporting former director Sandip Ghosh. The former director has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a corruption case.
The protesting doctors have demanded a number of resignations, including that of Kolkata police chief Vineet Goyal and two senior officials of the health department. They have made it clear that they are not prepared to budge until their demands are met.
The case has reached the Supreme Court after the judges took notice of the matter on their own. However, the resolution of the doctors' protest has been left to the state government. The rape and murder case and the financial irregularities at the hospital are being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
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