Aakhir Tak – In Shorts
- Junior doctors in Kolkata end 16-day hunger strike.
- Strike ends after a two-hour-long meeting with Mamata Banerjee.
- Doctors will continue protesting through other means, despite ending the fast.
Aakhir Tak – In Depth
Junior doctors in Kolkata, who were on a hunger strike for 16 days, ended their fast after a two-hour-long meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The meeting was live-streamed from the state secretariat, Nabanna. The doctors were protesting the rape and murder of their colleague at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and had been demanding better working conditions and improvements in healthcare infrastructure.
During the meeting, Mamata Banerjee urged the doctors to end their hunger strike, stating that most of their demands had been addressed. However, she rejected their request to remove the state health secretary, Nigam. Banerjee emphasized that no one could be labeled an accused without concrete proof. The doctors, while ending their hunger strike, made it clear that they would continue their protest through other means.
The junior doctors, who had earlier called for a general medical strike, also announced its withdrawal. However, they assured that their protest for better working conditions and safety would continue. Mamata Banerjee appealed to the doctors to resume their duties and assured them that the state government would take their demands into consideration.
