Kolkata Stalemate Continues: Striking Docs Refuse To Enter Meeting Venue Sans Live Streaming

Kolkata: The stalemate continued on Thursday in the battle between West Bengal government and striking doctors, who are protesting against the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital.

The government invited the doctors for the third time in as many days, reiterating in their email on Thursday that 15 members will be allowed at the meeting with chief minister Mamata Banerjee but there would be no live streaming of the talks.

Welcoming the government move, the doctors decided to travel from Swasthya Bhaban, their site of protest for the last 48 hours, to the state secretariat Nabanna, even as they stuck to their demands.

The top brass of the state government gave in to the doctors’ demand of allowing 32 members at the meeting, but was adamant on the issue of live streaming.

So were the doctors, as they refused to go in for the meeting without live streaming being arranged.

Top government officials and police officers tried to persuade the team of doctors to go ahead with the meeting as the CM waited inside. However, their pleas fell on deaf ears.

Explaining the government stand, Mamata said later that live telecast of the meeting wasn’t possible as the issues which were to be discussed were sub-judice.

Among the striking doctors’ demands are resignation of police commissioner Vineet Goyal, some health department officials, and specific safety and security measures at all government hospitals.

Despite Supreme Court’s directive to resume work by 5 pm on September 10, the doctors have not resumed work unless their demands are met.