A group of 75 prominent figures from various fields has emailed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, urging them to meet the demands of junior doctors protesting the horrific rape and murder of their colleague at R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata.
The email, signed by individuals from academia, culture, and the medical and legal professions, supports the protest. Notably, seven junion doctors are on fast-unto-death protest. They describe these protests as justified and necessary.
The signatories noted that there have been signs of administrative negligence regarding other sensitive issues. They referenced a recent case involving the alleged rape-murder of a minor girl in Jaynagar, South 24 Parganas district.
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As a result of these incidents, the signatories argue that fear has compelled junior doctors to start strike. They emphasize the urgent need for a transparent and safe environment in medical colleges and hospitals.
Moreover, the group has called on the state administration to engage in discussions with the protesting doctors. Individual sent the email as the junior doctors’ hunger strike entered its fifth day.
In a show of solidarity, 50 senior doctors from R.G. Kar Medical College submitted their mass resignations on Wednesday. They expressed support for their junior colleagues, stating, “The decision of our seniors has strengthened our morale to carry out our movements.”
A representative from the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF), the organization leading the protests, warned that if any administrative pressure is applied to the senior doctors following their resignations, the junior doctors would intensify their protests.
The fast-unto-death agitation began on Saturday night with six junior doctors from various medical institutions. A seventh doctor from R.G. Kar joined the hunger strike on Sunday evening.
