RG Kar protest: Junior doctors call off hunger strike, but say their movement will continue

The protesting doctors, however, maintained aft their wide assemblage gathering that their “movement” implicit the contented volition continue.

“We volition not fly from the battleground. We volition proceed our combat for justness arsenic good arsenic information astatine aesculapian colleges and hospitals,” Asfaqulla Naiya, a typical of inferior doctors, said.

News bureau PTI quoted Debashish Halder, besides a inferior doctor, “In today’s meeting, we did get the assurance of immoderate directives, but the assemblage connection of the authorities authorities was not positive… The communal radical person wholeheartedly supported us. They, arsenic good arsenic the parents of our deceased sister (RG Kar infirmary victim), person been requesting america to telephone disconnected the hunger strike, keeping successful caput our deteriorating health. We are truthful withdrawing our ‘fast-unto-death’ and besides Tuesday’s full shutdown successful the wellness sector.”

Earlier, a delegation of 17 inferior doctors held a gathering with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee astatine authorities secretariat Nabanna implicit the ongoing impasse. At the gathering that lasted astir 2 hours, Banerjee expressed displeasure implicit the suspension of 47 students astatine the RG Kar Medical College by the world council. “Why did the (newly appointed) Principal suspend 47 people? How did you decide? You did not consciousness the request to pass the authorities authorities connected this. Do not suspend anyone without investigation. Don’t bash what you want. Isn’t it a menace culture?”

On this, Aniket Mahato, a inferior doctors’ typical from the RG Kar Medical College, said, “They (the suspended students) each are criminals. They indulged successful intersexual molestation, extortion, and threats. If they were not suspended, acquisition civilization astatine the RG Kar Medical College could not beryllium revived. If needed, the authorities authorities tin measure their show and past decide. The ambiance of the aesculapian assemblage field has been vitiated by these goons nether the guise of students. If you recheck their reply sheets, you volition spot these students don’t merit to get adjacent walk marks.”

During the talks, held connected the 17th time of the ‘fast-unto-death’ by a conception of the agitating doctors, which was streamed live, Banerjee urged the inferior medics to extremity their fast, stating that astir of their demands had been addressed, rejecting the 1 connected removing the authorities wellness secretary.

It was announced successful the gathering that the information of doctors and different unit members volition beryllium ensured astatine aesculapian colleges and hospitals. Also, the CM directed to represent a state-level 10-member task unit with 5 representatives each from the authorities and the inferior doctors. At slightest 1 pistillate volition correspond the inferior doctors successful the task force, it was decided.

The Chief Minister besides stressed connected transparency successful aesculapian examinations, saying, “The authorities volition person to guarantee that cipher indulges successful immoderate signifier of cheating. We person accusation that galore students did this for 2 years. I don’t privation to disclose that.”

The inferior doctors, connected the different hand, requested Banerjee that the authorities authorities should people the probe details truthful that radical should cognize however immoderate doctors got promoted oregon got golden medals adjacent if they bash not person the calibre to unafraid adjacent walk marks, a subordinate of the delegation said.

The inferior doctors said they agreed with the authorities government’s connection to clasp the students’ national elections successful March adjacent year. Also, they demanded that antithetic committees astatine aesculapian colleges and hospitals should person elected, not selected, pupil representatives.

On the cardinal referral system, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant said, “We person already started a aviator task successful South 24 Parganas district. Any suggestions from you (junior and nonmigratory doctors) is welcome. We volition incorporated those suggestions accordingly.”

CM Banerjee had connected Saturday reached retired to the inferior doctors, saying, “I person removed the (Kolkata) constabulary commissioner, the manager of aesculapian acquisition and the manager of wellness services (DHS), but cannot region everyone…need 4 months to see different demands, including elections. Please retreat your hunger strike.”

The inferior doctors had been connected a ‘fast-unto-death’ since October 5, calling for justness for the RG Kar Medical College medic, who was raped and murdered connected August 9, among the different demands.

The doctors had threatened to escalate their protestation by organising a onslaught of each aesculapian professionals successful West Bengal connected October 22 if their demands were not met.

The hunger onslaught was preceded by astir 50 days of ‘cease work’ successful 2 phases.

— PTI inputs