RG Kar: Mamata Banerjee invites junior doctors again for talks sans live-streaming or video recording

The Chief Minister has invited junior doctors for the meeting at her Kalighat residence at 5 pm.

In a letter from chief secretary Manoj Pant, it has been cleared to the doctors that their demand for live-streaming or video recording won't be allowed in the meeting citing the matter is in the court.

"We trust that good sense will prevail, and as mutually agreed and as per your statement to the media day before- there will be no live-streaming or videography of the meeting, given that the matter is sub judice in the highest court of the country. Instead, the minutes of the meeting will be recorded and signed by both parties," said Pant in the letter. 

The junior doctors are in the huddle for a decision.

In a warning for the junior doctors, BJP IT Cell Amit Malviya posted on X, "West Bengal Chief Secretary’s hurried letter to the protesting Junior Doctors’ is desperation, laced with overtones of intimidation. This attempt to reach out, just before the Supreme Court is to hear the matter, is yet another attempt to present a benign face before the Court.

"Using ‘sub judice’ as the reason to decline request for live streaming/videography is absolute trash and smacks of a conspiracy. Doctors need to be wary of Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. She is evil and will use the meeting to her political advantage."

On Thursday, about 30-35 junior doctors reached the state government headquarters Nabanna but didn't attend the meeting as their demand for live-streaming of the discussion was turned down by the Chief Minister.

After Mamata reached the doctors' dharna site on Saturday afternoon, the protesters agreed for a meeting at the Chief Minister's residence but the question of live-streaming played spoilsport initially.

Junior doctors plead with Mamata Banerjee for a meeting with videography. Photo courtesy: Medical College Kolkata Resident Doctors' Association

After repeated requests from the Chief Minister and a promise of meeting minutes, the junior doctors agreed for a discussion but junior Health Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya and state chief secretary Manoj Pant said it was time over for the day.

While the government is aiming to talk on safety issues in hospitals, the junior doctors' five demands include justice for the victim, disciplinary action against now arrested ex-RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh, resignation of Commissioner of Police Vineet Goyal and two other top police officers, enhancing security at hospitals and elimination of the alleged threat culture.