Won't Take Action, Get Back To Work: Mamata Banerjee To Protesting Doctors

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met the protesting doctors outside the Swasthya Bhawan, requesting them to come back to work.

"I have come forward by leading the student movement, I have also struggled a lot in my life, I understand your struggle. I am not worried about my position,"

The Bengal CM said that she is worried about them as it rained all night. She has promised them to study their demands. She said, "It rained all night yesterday, you were sitting here protesting, I was worried all night...After listening to your demands, I will study them. I do not run the government alone, I will definitely find a solution by studying your demands with senior officials."

For over a month now, junior doctors have been protesting against the rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and urged them to return to work. However, Mamata has promised the protestors to punish the guilty.

She said, "Whoever is found guilty will definitely be punished. I am asking for some time from you. The state government will not take any action against you (protesting doctors). I request you to return to work... All the work related to the development, infrastructure, and security of the hospital has been started and will be done further ..."

She promised to establish committees in every hospital, consisting of both senior and junior doctors, to ensure fairness. She further emphasized that anyone found guilty would face consequences, adding that the officials in question were not her friends, responding to demands for their resignation. She urged them to discuss the matter among themselves and assured them that no punitive action would be taken. Unlike in Uttar Pradesh, she said, where action was taken against doctors, she would not do the same. Acknowledging their hard work and importance, she expressed her understanding of their role.

Banerjee also appealed to the doctors, asking them to trust her to address their complaints. She mentioned that the matter was before the Supreme Court, with a hearing scheduled for the following Tuesday, and expressed concern for their well-being.