Junior doctors in West Bengal, who have been protesting for over a month demanding justice for a fellow medic who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, held a crucial meeting on Tuesday evening to decide the future of their ongoing ‘cease work’ action.
The meeting, which began around 6:30 pm, was convened by the governing body of the protesting medics to deliberate on whether to continue the strike. According to one of the protesting doctors, the discussion focused on recent actions taken by the state government, which have addressed some of their key demands.
“We are holding this meeting to decide on whether to continue with our ‘cease work’, as some of our demands have been fulfilled by the state government,” the doctor said.
On Monday night, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the removal of top officials, including the Kolkata police commissioner, the director of health services, and the director of medical education. This move was seen as a significant concession to the demands of the protesting junior doctors, who had been calling for accountability and action following the brutal attack on their colleague.
The announcement followed an extensive meeting between the chief minister and representatives of the agitating doctors. The discussions marked a potential breakthrough in the standoff, which began after the rape-murder of a junior doctor at the hospital on August 9.
While the doctors welcomed the government’s steps, they are still considering whether to continue their strike until all demands are met. The protest has caused significant disruptions in healthcare services across the state, with junior doctors refusing to attend duties in various hospitals.
The outcome of Tuesday’s meeting is expected to shape the next phase of the protest, as the medics continue to demand justice and improved security measures for healthcare workers.
(With media inputs)
