Live streaming demand nixes Mamata-junior doctors meeting: They want chair, not justice, says CM afterwards
Kolkata/IBNS: The much-anticipated meeting between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the striking junior doctors scheduled at 5 pm at Nabanna on Thursday failed to take place after the agitating medics insisted on live-streaming of the proceedings which the CM refused citing the sub-judice nature of the case.
The Chief Minister waited for two hours and then addressed the media and people at large from Nabanna.
Mamata said she is ready to resign if needed as she does not hanker for power, but will not be able to accept the junior doctors' insistence on a sub-judice case or their refusal to treat patient who are dying. "I will forgive them still," she said, urging the doctors to join work while alleging that politics is at play in their adamence too.
She then went on to say: "They do not want justice, they want the chair."
The doctors are on a cease work demanding justice over the gruesome rape and murder of a junior doctor in the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last month, an incident that triggered an unprecedented protest in West Bengal.
Hon’ble CM @MamataOfficial waits for junior doctors for 1.5 hours, but the deadlock continues. How much longer will Bengal’s healthcare system be held hostage?#RGKarProtest pic.twitter.com/iJUu5DRJgj
— Nilanjan Das (@NilanjanDasAITC) September 12, 2024
The delegation of 32 to 34 doctors camped outside the state secretariat Nabanna, refusing to enter and meet with Bengal Chief Minister till live streaming is allowed.
What Mamata Banerjee said after the junior doctors refused to go to the meeting room or enter Nabanna for not allowing live streaming:
- For two hours we waited. We asked them to come with an open mind. You are not tied, neither are we tied.
- Problems can be solved only if we talk. We waited two days for two hours earlier too. We forgave them by honouring their emotion. But the letter was clear (about live streaming).
- We had three video cameras arranged to record it fully. You have to understand that the case is sub-judice and we cannot live-stream the discussions. We could have recorded it and given it to them as well as to the court. We are honouring the Supreme Court direction.
- They came late but that is not an issue. I know the people of Bengal want justice and they have their emotions.
- We have no double standard. We were planning to discuss the safety of doctors and their development.
- When a matter is sub-judice we cannot do this (live streaming). The government is accountable too.
- We had clearly stated in our letter that we cannot do a live telecast and they could have raised any issue and briefed the press afterwards.
- I will not take any action still. As a senior I will forgive them. We asked for 15 people while they were 34 in numbers. But they did not come to the meeting room.
- From 15 in Left regime we have built 35 hospitals and there are 43 multi-speciality hospitals.
- I forgive them and I request them to join work and ensure there is no more death and people get treatment.
- I tried my best to sit with the junior doctors. I waited for three days, waiting, waiting and waiting. I waited three days with my highest officials for them.
- We want justice for Tilottama, we want justice for common people.
- Many of them wanted to join the meeting, but a few were against it (instigated over phone) from what I got from some media people around them. They do not want justice, they want the chair.
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