Junior doctors at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, who have been protesting for 41 days against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor, have called off their strike. They announced that essential services in hospitals will resume from September 21. On Friday, the doctors also announced a rally to the CBI office to expedite the investigation into the rape-murder case.
Rally and Protest:
The protesting doctors revealed that they will hold a rally from Swasthya Bhawan to the CBI office today at 3 pm. Their goal is to urge the CBI to speed up the investigation into the brutal crime. A protesting doctor stated, “We are calling off the protest from here and will march to the CBI office. CBI needs to expedite the case of murder and rape.” The doctors also confirmed that essential services will resume from September 21 as there is a need to help people, especially considering the current flood situation in the state.
Discussions and Decision:
This development comes after a draft outlining the doctors’ key demands was submitted to the state’s Chief Secretary, Manoj Pant, on Thursday. The doctors are now awaiting the state’s response to their proposals.
The second round of meetings between the state’s public healthcare task force, led by Chief Secretary Pant, and a delegation of 30 junior doctors took place at the state secretariat, Nabanna, on Thursday. The first round of talks was held at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence on Monday.
West Bengal has witnessed large-scale protests following the rape and murder of the trainee doctor, coupled with allegations of widespread corruption in government healthcare facilities. These events have shaken the state, resulting in massive protests led by junior doctors.
