West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee urges doctors to end hunger strike, asks for ‘3-4 months’ to meet demands

Chief Minister of the Indian State of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee made a phone call on Saturday (Oct 19) to junior doctors, urging them to end their fast-unto-death strike over the rape and murder of a female junior doctor from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The call was made using the mobile phone of Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, who, along with Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Indira Mukherjee, visited the protest site at Esplanade in central Kolkata.

While at the hunger strike venue, Pant connected Banerjee to the junior doctors through his phone’s speaker. Banerjee made a plea to the doctors, saying, “I request you to withdraw the hunger strike. Please come to the discussions. Most of your demands have already been fulfilled. Please give me three to four months. I will arrange to conduct elections for different councils in all medical colleges & hospitals. Please withdraw the hunger strike.”

Addressing one of their demands regarding the removal of Health Secretary Narayan Swarup Nigam, the CM explained that moving all key officials from a critical department at once could lead to challenges. “Already we have removed the Kolkata Police Commissioner and some other officials,” she added.

“I am in favour of humanity. I also want justice. But at the same time, the treatment of the common people will have to be ensured. So I am again requesting you to withdraw from the hunger strike and get back to work,” Banerjee stated.

The CM’s appeal came as the hunger strike entered its 15th day and many doctors have been rushed to hospital because of the same. The junior doctors had recently warned that they would resume total cease-work from the following Tuesday if their demands were not met.

(With inputs from agencies)