Kolkata rape-murder case: Bengal junior doctors resume 'total cease work'
What's the story
Junior doctors in West Bengal resumed their complete "cease work" protest on Tuesday, pushing the Mamata Banerjee-led government to address their concerns, including enhanced safety and security at medical facilities, according to a PTI report. The decision followed an eight-hour meeting of the junior doctors, during which they outlined 10 key demands. These include bolstering hospital security, improving healthcare infrastructure, and eliminating the culture of threats and political interference in hospitals.
Ongoing protest
Doctors' strike continues amid unmet demands
The West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front said, "Unless we receive clear action from the government on safety, patient services, and the politics of fear, we will have no choice but to continue our full strike." The doctors had partially resumed their duties at government hospitals on September 21 after a 42-day protest against the rape-murder of an on-duty woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9.
Twitter Post
Read doctors' full statement here
RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case | We are compelled to return to a full ceasework starting from today. Unless we receive clear action from the government on safety, patient services, and the politics of fear, we will have no choice but to continue our full… pic.twitter.com/FG0DxlI9CW
— ANI (@ANI) October 1, 2024
Approved rally
HC allows doctors' protest rally
The Calcutta High Court on Monday allowed a protest rally by the Joint Platform of Doctors (JPD), which led to the announcement of the resumed strike. The court directed that a peaceful rally be held between 5:00pm and 8:00pm from College Square in north Kolkata to Rabindra Sadan in the south, via Central Avenue and Esplanade. Despite requests from Kolkata Police for participant and route restrictions, no such limitations were imposed by the court.
Wider participation
Senior doctors and civil society join protest
Senior doctors are gearing up for a rally in Kolkata on Tuesday, and it is expected to see participation from around 60 civil society organizations. Manas Gumta, a surgery professor from the Joint Platform of Doctors, said, "The movement will go on in some form till justice is delivered." There is another rally organized by WBJDF set for Wednesday at 1:00pm which is likely to attract various organizations, including senior doctors and civil society bodies.