‘Here as Didi, not CM’: Mamata visits protesters in ‘last attempt’ to resolve crisis

In a surprise move aimed at ending the stalemate between her government and the protesting junior doctors, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday (September 14) visited the site where the medics are staging a sit-in and addressed them directly.

Even as she struck a conciliatory note, Mamata made it clear that this was her “last attempt” to resolve the crisis.

“Here as your elder sister”

Addressing the protesting doctors outside Swasthya Bhavan, the headquarters of the state health department, Mamata said she was not there “as the chief minister but as their ‘didi’ — an elder sister”. Mamata is popularly referred to as “Didi” by the masses in Bengal.

Addressing the protesting doctors in Bengali, the chief minister said she had come despite warnings from her security personnel because she “saluted” their protest that has been going on for more than a month now, starting from the August 9 rape and murder of an on-duty postgraduate trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The sit-in outside Swasthya Bhavan has been going on since Tuesday.

“Will study your demands with empathy”

“I have risen from students’ movement myself. I have also suffered a lot in life,” she said, adding that she had also “spent sleepless nights” as the doctors have been protesting on the road amid rains. She said as their “watchman”, she also has not been in peace as the doctors continued their protest for the past 33–34 days.

“Without suffering anymore, if you want to return to work, I assure you that I will hold discussions and study your demands with empathy. I alone don’t run the government. The chief secretary, home secretary, DGP (deputy general of police) are all with me…If anyone is guilty, they will definitely be punished,” Mamata said.

“I want justice too”

She went on to add that she also wants “justice for Tilottama” — as the victim is being referred to, and also variedly as Abhaya. The protests that have rocked Bengal since August 9 have been with the single cry seeking justice for her. She once again reiterated her demand for a speedy probe by the CBI and death penalty for the guilty.

Urging the doctors once again to return to work, Mamata said their families were also worried for them and many patients had died because they did not get proper treatment. According to the state government, 23 patients have died because they did not get proper treatment in state-run hospitals because of the doctors’ cease-work.

“You are also the brothers and sisters of our homes…I can assure you that I will do no injustice to you,” said the chief minister.

Patient welfare committees to be dissolved

She also announced dissolving patient welfare committees of all medical college hospitals, including RG Kar. She said all committees will be formed anew with the principal as the chairperson, and representative from both junior and senior doctors, nurses, police, and a public representative.

Mamata also asserted that “none of the guilty were [her] friends”, as it is being alleged. “You are thinking some of the accused are my friends. I don’t even know them. They have no links with us. They have come [to occupy their posts] through the due process. It comes to me [for approval] after being finalised. If anyone among them is guilty in the rape-murder case or of corruption, I will definitely try to take action within my power after holding discussions.”

Promise of no adverse action

She urged the doctors to hold discussions among themselves and take a decision on lifting their cease-work. “I will not take any action,” she assured the doctors again, pointing out that the Uttar Pradesh government had taken action under the ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act). “I won’t do that. I know you work a lot; I know how important you are,” she said, adding that senior doctors do not do certain things the junior doctors do, such as changing catheters.

She also reminded everyone that taking measures would take time and nobody can be punished without being proved guilty. Mentioning the ongoing case in Supreme Court, Mamata said there is another hearing on September 17 and that she “did not want any harm to befall the protesters”.

Stalemate over talks

“I had also gone on a hunger strike for 26 days [during the Singur protest], but no one from the then Left government had come to speak to me,” Mamata added. “But I have come to speak to you.”

The state government has been making efforts to initiate a dialogue with the protesting doctors, but they have been getting stalled, most recently over the protestors’ demand for livestreaming of the talks. Subsequently, the chief minister on Friday even offered to resign over the issue.

The five demands the doctors have placed before the state include holding accountable all those responsible for the medics’ rape and murder and the alleged destruction of evidence and punishing them.

They have also sought strict disciplinary action against former RG Kar medical college principal Sandip Ghosh and are pushing for the resignation of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam, among others.

They also want adequate security measures for healthcare workers and the “threat culture” prevailing in government healthcare institutions to be eliminated.

Preconditions by doctors

The state government had invited the doctors for a meeting on Tuesday, but they rejected the invite because it came from the health secretary, whose resignation they are demanding.

On Wednesday, the doctors placed some preconditions for the discussions to take place. They want a delegation of at least 30 to be allowed to go to the meeting, the presence of the chief minister at the meeting, the meeting to be centred around their five demands, and the meeting to be live-streamed.

The state agreed to three of the four demands, barring the demand to live-stream the meeting. The doctors held up Mamata for two hours but returned without meeting her because of this. Mamata later explained that since the matter was sub-judice, live streaming the meeting would be against protocol.

It now remains to be seen what effect Mamata’s visit has on the protesting doctors.