‘Politics Involved’: Kolkata Stalemate Continues As Govt Turns Down Striking Doctors’ Conditional Talks Demand

Kolkata: The battle of attrition between the striking Kolkata doctors and state government continued on Wednesday evening with no solution in sight.

Following 24 hours of drama over which side was to blame for talks not materialising, the West Bengal government invited the protesting doctors for a meeting at Nabanna, the state secretariat, on Wednesday evening.

But while the state government wanted 12-15 representatives to be present at the meeting, the doctors shot back another email stating that 30 members representing all government colleges would go.

The resident doctors, who have been on ceasework since a postgraduate trainee was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital on August 9, also demanded that (a) the entire meeting will have to be telecast live for transparency purposes and (b) the entire meeting will have to be held in the chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s presence.

Turning down the students’ latest demands, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant said talks can’t be conditional.

“We wanted to discuss the issues with an open mind to try and find solutions. Unfortunately, they didn’t come. It’s not the right mindset,” said Pant.

Minister of state for Health Chandrima Bhattacharya criticised the students and said that politics was involved behind their decision.

“Why did they reply to yesterday’s mail by Health secretary at 3.45 am? Does anyone send a mail to Nabann at 3.45 am? Is there politics involved? It seems like that,” Bhattacharya said at a press conference.

“They don’t want a discussion with open mind, so conditions are being imposed. It seems to be political,” she added.