A 30-member delegation refused to meet Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after the West Bengal government turned down their request for a live broadcast of the meeting. The meeting, intended to resolve the month-long “cease work” protest, was scheduled at Nabanna, but the refusal led to further delays in any potential resolution.
Speaking to the media, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated that the government has been waiting for the past three days to hold talks with the protesting doctors. “I will not take any action against them… They are young, and we will forgive them… I was seeking a meeting with an open mind.”
Mamata Banerjee also said that she is willing to resign for the sake of the people but requested the doctors, who did not meet her, to return to work and treat the “lakhs of patients”. She also asked senior government officials to meet the protesting doctors if they want to hold talks and solve the matter as soon as possible.
Earlier, the state’s Chief Secretary expressed frustration over the situation, saying, “We are trying to convince them. Live streaming or not is not important. Dialogue is important. Only dialogue can solve the problem. But CM is waiting more than one and half hour. There is limit.”
The protest, now on its 34th day, was sparked by the rape and murder of a junior medic at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Despite a directive from the Supreme Court for doctors to resume work, tensions remain high, with demonstrations continuing in Kolkata.
Enforcement Directorate Crackdown
Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its investigation into alleged financial irregularities involving Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Hospital. On Thursday morning, ED officials conducted raids at multiple locations, including the residence of Chandan Louhya in Kolkata’s Tala area and an office in Kalindi, targeting individuals connected to Dr. Ghosh.
ALSO READ: ‘Have patience till Durga Puja’: Mamata Banerjee on rising clamour to remove Kolkata top cop Vineet Goyal
Dr. Ghosh, already in custody, is under investigation for corruption charges linked to his tenure at RG Kar Hospital. While he faces no direct charges for the murder, his alleged financial misconduct remains a focus for authorities.
CBI Probe Expands
In a parallel investigation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is intensifying efforts to uncover additional details in the RG Kar case. Sanjay Roy, the primary suspect, underwent another round of questioning as part of the CBI’s ongoing inquiry. The probe also includes the interrogation of four junior doctors, Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner (North) Abhishek Gupta, and Deputy Commissioner of the Detective Department (DD) Special Vidit Raj Bhundesh.
The murder case and its associated controversies have rocked Kolkata’s medical community, leading to widespread unrest among healthcare workers, and further fueling the ongoing standoff between the government and medical professionals.
