Mamata Accepts 99% Demands Of Medics; Junior Docs To Continue Cease Work Till Assurances Materialise

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Monday night that the state government had accepted most of the demands put forward by the protesting doctors, including the removal of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, Director of Health Services, and Director of Medical Education.

"Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and Deputy Commissioner of the North Division Abhishek Gupta will be transferred. The doctors had claimed that Goyal expressed a desire to step down due to their loss of confidence in him. We have honored his request and transferred him to a position of his choosing," Banerjee stated.

After the meeting, Banerjee described the discussions as "fruitful," noting that nearly "99 percent of their demands have been accepted." She urged the junior doctors to immediately return to work, emphasizing that "no punitive action will be taken against the doctors... I request them to rejoin work as the public is suffering."

The announcement came after an extended meeting aimed at resolving the month-long impasse, which had been triggered by the rape and murder of a medic at RG Kar hospital on August 9.

However, the protesting junior doctors announced they would continue their 'cease work' and demonstrations until all promises were fully implemented. They welcomed the decision to remove Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal.

"We will continue our 'cease work' and demonstration at 'Swasthya Bhavan' until the promises made by the CM are fulfilled. We are also awaiting Tuesday's Supreme Court hearing related to the RG Kar rape-murder case," one of the doctors told PTI.

The junior doctors also mentioned they would hold a meeting after the court hearing on Tuesday to decide on the future of their protests.

The medics, who began celebrating after Banerjee's announcement, addressed the media at 'Swasthya Bhavan' after returning from the meeting with the chief minister.

One junior doctor said, "Our movement succeeded because of the support of the common people. After 38 days, the state administration had to yield, but we still have a long way to go to secure justice for our sister."