Junior doctors protesting over the RG Kar Medical rape and murder case ended their hunger strike Monday after a two-hour meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the state secretariat, Nabanna.
The doctors also called off a complete strike, which was scheduled for Tuesday, but emphasised that their movement for justice and safety in medical colleges will persist.
“We will not flee from the battleground. We will continue our fight for justice as well as safety at medical colleges and hospitals,” said Asfaqulla Naiya, a junior doctor’s representative, The Indian Express reported.
The decision to withdraw the hunger strike came after appeals from the public and the victim’s family, citing the doctors’ deteriorating health. “We did get the assurance of some directives, but the body language of the state government was not positive… junior doctor Debashish Halder told reporters. “We are therefore withdrawing our ‘fast-unto-death’ and also Tuesday’s total shutdown in the health sector.” Halder added.
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The meeting saw Banerjee express concern over the suspension of 47 RG Kar students by the college’s academic council, calling for an investigation before any disciplinary action. However, junior doctor Aniket Mahato defended the suspensions, accusing the students of sexual molestation, extortion, and threats.
A key outcome of the meeting was the creation of a 10-member task force, comprising five representatives each from the government and the junior doctors, to address safety concerns at medical colleges. At least one woman will represent the junior doctors on the task force.
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Banerjee also pointed the need for transparency in medical exams, alleging that some students had cheated over the past two years. The junior doctors agreed to the state’s proposal to hold students’ union elections in March and requested that committees at medical colleges include elected, not appointed, student representatives.
The central referral system, currently piloted in South 24 Parganas district, was also discussed, with the government welcoming suggestions from the doctors.
On Saturday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached out to the junior doctors, urging them to end their hunger strike.“I have removed the (Kolkata) police commissioner, the director of medical education and the director of health services (DHS), but cannot remove everyone…need four months to consider other demands, including elections. Please withdraw your hunger strike.”
The junior doctors had been on a ‘fast-unto-death’ since October 5, demanding justice for their colleague from RG Kar Medical College, who was raped and murdered on August 9, along with other demands. They had also threatened to intensify their protest with a statewide strike of all medical professionals on October 22 if their demands were not met.