On Thursday, the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF) has initiated a mass signature campaign to foster deeper engagement with the public amid ongoing protests following the tragic rape and murder of a fellow doctor at RG Kar Hospital.
The campaign aims to enhance public interaction and support for their cause, which includes a set of ten demands directed at the state government.
A representative from the WBJDF explained the motivation behind the initiative, stating, “Already people in large numbers were spontaneously assembling with us in our different protest programmes. But often the common people were unable to interact directly with us or our colleagues who were on fast-unto-death. So we have decided to initiate a drive for bigger mass involvement in our movement, and that’s why we have decided to start the ‘mass signature’ programmes.”
The representative emphasized that the campaign would not be one-sided; participants will have the opportunity to express their thoughts on the junior doctors’ demands, nine of which fall under the state government’s jurisdiction.
The organizers view the signature drive as a strategic move to increase pressure on the West Bengal government, which has faced mounting public outrage following the heinous crime and the subsequent fast-unto-death protests by junior doctors.
Political analysts have hailed the campaign as a masterstroke, predicting it will heighten scrutiny on government inaction regarding the doctors’ grievances.
The palpable anger of the public was evident during a recent protest dubbed the ‘Droh-Carnival’, where thousands gathered in solidarity with the junior doctors.
This event coincided with the state government’s Durga idol immersion celebration, attended by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the turnout for the ‘Droh-Carnival’ far surpassed that of the state-sponsored event, highlighting the growing discontent among citizens.
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