'...Until CM Walks The Talk': Doctors Continue Stir After Mamata's Action On Kolkata CP, BJP Takes 'Trust' Jibe

West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Forum (WBJDF), which met Mamata Banerjee on Monday, said they would continue their stir unless the Chief Minister materialises the promises she made to them. During the meeting at her Kalighat residence in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee announced she would remove Commissioner of Police (CP) Vineet Goyal, the director of health services and the director of medical education, giving in to the demands of the protesting junior doctors.

After the meeting concluded, the doctors hailed Banerjee’s announcement, describing it as their moral victory, but said their protests would continue until the announcements came into action.

The protests have been ongoing for more than a month, over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.

WHAT MAMATA BANERJEE SAID AFTER THE MEETING

Accepting the bulk of the five-point charter of demand placed by the agitating junior doctors, Mamata Banerjee announced her decision to transfer a section of Kolkata Police and the state health department top brass, including CP Vineet Goyal, from their respective positions.

Banerjee also announced the removal of the Director of Medical Education (DME) and the Director of Health Services (DHS) besides the Deputy Commissioner (North Division) who allegedly offered money to the parents of the RG Kar victim.

Noting that the talks with the protesters were fruitful, Banerjee said, “Nearly 99 per cent of their demands have been accepted and they should resume their work.”

“In view of the demand of junior doctors, Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal has said in the meeting that he is ready to resign. At 4 pm (on Tuesday), Vineet will hand over the responsibility to the new CP,” Mamata said as she addressed the media after concluding her meeting with the doctors.

“We will announce the name of the new police commissioner after 4 pm on Tuesday after the scheduled hearing in Supreme Court gets over,” she said, barely hours ahead of the scheduled Supreme Court hearing in the RG Kar Hospital case.

WHAT JUNIOR DOCTORS SAID AFTER MEETING

Giving an account of their meeting with the Chief Minister, the junior doctors said Mamata Banerjee put some questions before them and asked them about their demands. After hearing them out, Mamata said she would remove two Health Department heads, the Director of Health Services (DHS), the Director of Medical Education (DME), and the Commissioner of Police would be transferred, the doctors said.

“Our andolan in front of the Swasthya Bhawan will continue till we see in writing that the Chief Minister has walked the talk and has actually acted on what was decided in the meeting and that these are not mere words. Then only we will consider withdrawing our strike,” said Dr Debasish Halder, one of the leaders from the sit-in before the state Health Department.

Another doctor said, “We hope that the verbal promises she made will be practically implemented. To some extent, we believe the discussion was successful. However, regarding our demand for action against the Principal Secretary and Deputy Commissioner (DC) Central, we did not receive any assurance.”

“We also discussed issues related to safety and security, as well as the formation of student unions in colleges. The Chief Minister proposed creating a National Task Force (NTF) headed by the Chief Secretary, but we declined the offer. However, we are still open to further discussions if our safety and security are assured,” the doctor added.

Also clarifying that they would continue their protests, the doctors said, “We would like to inform everyone that as our protests are ongoing at Swasthya Bhavan, we will discuss with our fellow college students, nursing students, and all others actively involved in the protests. Based on those discussions, we will decide our future course of action—whether to continue the protests or not.”

HOW THE MEETING WAS FINALISED

On Monday, talks between the state government and the agitating junior doctors began at around 6.50 pm after four unsuccessful previous bids to initiate a dialogue to resolve the deadlock. The meeting lasted for about two hours.

It took another three hours to complete the process of finalising the minutes of the meeting in the presence of the state Chief Secretary.

Previous attempts to resolve the issue got stuck due to the state government’s rejection of the doctors’ demand for live-streaming and video recordings of the meeting.

The agitating medics later agreed to a compromise, now only asking to record the minutes of the meeting and receive a signed copy.

The state government also allowed the two stenographers, accompanying the agitating doctors, inside the venue to record the minutes of the meeting.

BJP SAYS MAMATA ‘ADMITS TO COVER UP’

Soon after the meeting between the junior doctors and Mamata Banerjee was over, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s IT cell chief, Amit Malviya, said the Chief Minister has admitted to a coverup in the RG Kar Medical College rape case.

In an X post, Malviya said, “Mamata Banerjee bites dust. Is forced to remove the Commissioner of Kolkata Police and his Deputy (DC North). Both DHS and DME, top most health officials, also sacked! In short, Mamata Banerjee admits to the cover up in RG Kar Medical College & Hospital rape case. She also concedes that a criminal syndicate is running West Bengal’s healthcare.”

Also demanding her to resign, Malviya wrote, “Mamata Banerjee sacrificed her loyalists to save her Chief Ministership. She must step down, as all these people were acting at her behest. She is both the Home and Health Minister of West Bengal. Commissioner of Kolkata Police, who reports directly to the CM herself, actively eliminated all evidence of the crime, disclosed identity of the rape victim, while DC North offered money to the grieving family, to hush up the matter.” (sic).

In another post, Malviya slammed the Chief Minister, saying no one trusts her,

“No one trusts Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal any more. Just no one… Even after Mamata Banerjee promised to sack the Commissioner of Kolkata Police and his Deputy, and two top health officers, the Junior Doctors have refused to withdraw their indefinite sit-in protest at Swasthya Bhawan,” his post read.

Also reacting to the meeting, Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari wrote on X, “The Minutes of the Meeting suggest that a compromise has been reached between both the parties to end the stalemate. However, for the ends of Justice, mere transfer of few Officers won’t be sufficient. Those who played an important role in tampering evidence must be put behind the bars.” (sic).

The agitating doctors are on ‘cease work’ across the state for 38 days since the gruesome alleged rape and murder of the postgraduate intern at RG Kar Hospital came to light on August 9, crippling state-run healthcare delivery.