Junior doctors in Bengal reject Mamata’s appeal to end agitation

KOLKATA: The agitating junior doctors in West Bengal, who have been continuing ceasework for 20 days to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a medic, on Wednesday rejected Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s appeal to join duty.

A member of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Forum said they would not withdraw the agitation unless their demands, such as justice for the deceased postgraduate trainee of the RG Kar hospital, were met.

They also demanded the suspension of Dr Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, from the health services and the same action against the Kolkata police commissioner.

The doctor’s forum took out a rally in Shyambazar area in the northern part of Kolkata to press their demands.

“We are glad to know that the chief minister is supporting our cause. We want to return to work but that is not possible now as our demands are yet to be met,” the member of the forum said.

Addressing a rally organised by Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad, Banerjee said, “I have remained sympathetic towards the cause of the doctors from the very beginning since they were seeking justice for their colleague.