Mamata transforms to ‘Didi’ to break RG Kar protest impasse

Spread the love

Mamata shares stage with RG Kar protestors

By Raisina Correspondent

New Delhi, September 14: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday spoke to the protesting doctors to break the deadlock. Banerjee told the agitating doctors that she came to meet them as their ‘Didi’.

Two days after the agitating doctors refused to meet her at the secretariat for lack of live-streaming facilities, Banerjee reached the protest site. She made a passionate speech to the protesting doctors for over seven minutes.

“I alone am not the government. We will discuss your five points. Please join the duty,” appealed Banerjee to the protesting doctors.

Watch: India needs partners to deal with challenges in Bangladesh, says Shashank, ex-foreign secretary

The protesting doctors afterwards spoke to the media. They refused to call off the agitation immediately. But they said that promises made by the chief minister will be discussed.

“I can assure you that no injustice will be done to you all. We will not spare the guilty in the incident,” said Banerjee.

The West Bengal chief minister made a fervent appeal that she would share the platform with the agitators and request for calling off the agitation. The West Bengal Police informed the Supreme Court earlier that 23 patients had died for lack of medical care due to the ongoing agitation at the RG Kar Hospital.

Afterwards, the West Bengal government said that 29 patients had died since the incident at the RG Kar Medical College. The West Bengal government has announced ₹2 lakh compensation to the dependents of the 29 patients who have died.

Also Read: Mamata meltdown warning for power to fear anger

Banerjee also raised questions over the timing of the commencement of the trial in the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case. The Central Bureau of Investigation is probing the rape-murder of the junior doctor at the RG Kar Medical College.

The West Bengal chief minister offered to form committees in the medical colleges consisting of the junior and the senior doctors. She assured that her government will take measures to meet demands of the protesting doctors.

The over a month-long agitation of the doctors has received a cross-section of support in West Bengal. Within the Trinamool Congress, Banerjee is facing dissensions for the manner in which the rape-murder case was handled by her government.

The TMC MP in the Rajya Sabha Jawahar Sircar quit the party after alleging that the rape-murder case was mishandled. The Opposition parties, the BJP and the Left, are also stepping up pressure on the TMC government over the alleged cover up attempts in the rape-murder case.

Join WhatsApp channel of The Raisina Hills