In a shocking turn of events, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed her willingness to step down from her position “for the sake of the people.” This dramatic statement comes amidst ongoing protests by junior doctors following the tragic rape and murder of a colleague at RG Kar Hospital.
Banerjee, addressing the media, emphasized her desire to see justice served in the hospital rape and murder case. She revealed that she had made three unsuccessful attempts to negotiate with the protesting doctors to break the deadlock. The Chief Minister painted a grim picture of the situation, stating that 27 people have died and approximately 700,000 patients are facing hardships due to the ongoing strike.
“I apologize to the people of Bengal who hoped this impasse would end today,” Banerjee said, her voice tinged with regret.
The crux of the disagreement appears to be the junior doctors’ demand for live telecasting of their meeting with the CM. Banerjee explained that due to the case being under court jurisdiction, a live broadcast was not possible. However, she offered a compromise: “We’ve arranged for video recording of the meeting. With the Supreme Court’s permission, we’ll provide that footage to the doctors.”
Mamatha Banerjee also assured that no action would be taken against the protesting junior doctors. “I will forgive them as they are young,” she added.
The negotiations hit a roadblock when the government limited the number of participating doctors to 15, while the junior doctors insisted on a team of 30. This disagreement led to a stalemate, with Banerjee reportedly waiting for nearly two hours to meet the doctors.
State officials, including DGP Rajeev Kumar, ADG Supratim Sarkar, and Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, attempted to mediate but were unsuccessful. Pant later stated, “We informed the doctors that live streaming wasn’t possible, but we offered to document the entire meeting. Despite our efforts to convince them, they chose not to attend.”
The junior doctors, however, maintain that their demands are reasonable. A spokesperson for the group said, “The CM’s comments are unfortunate. We wanted talks to happen, but the government’s refusal to allow live telecasting is harsh. We sought transparency, nothing more.”
Adding to the political drama, Governor CV Anand Bose announced his decision to distance himself from CM Mamatha Banerjee. In a video message, he stated, “I will not share any public platform with the Bengal CM given the public’s concerns over the RG Kar Hospital incident. I’ll even boycott her socially and take action against constitutional violations. My role will be limited to constitutional responsibilities.”
The Governor reaffirmed his commitment to the people of Bengal, particularly to the parents of Abhaya and those seeking justice. He concluded with a sharp critique: “I believe the government has failed to fulfill its responsibilities.”
As the healthcare crisis in West Bengal deepens, all eyes are on how this political standoff will resolve and what it means for the future of the state’s governance.
-Sanyogita