The ongoing protests by doctors in West Bengal, sparked by the rape and murder of a junior doctor from RG Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata, have intensified, with rival associations trading accusations.
The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF), the primary group leading the protests, has accused the newly-formed West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Association (WBJDA) of harboring members responsible for fostering a “threat culture” within medical institutions. The WBJDF claims that the WBJDA has ties to influential figures in the medical community, including Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar.
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Conversely, representatives of the WBJDA, which reportedly has the backing of the ruling Trinamool Congress, have alleged that WBJDF members are exploiting the tragic incident for personal gain, including soliciting funds from the public under the guise of protests. The WBJDA has called for a government investigation into the WBJDF’s activities, particularly regarding their funding sources.
In response, the WBJDF dismissed these accusations, asserting that the WBJDA is an entity formed with the support of the ruling party to undermine the protests that have garnered widespread public support. “We withdrew our fast-unto-death in consideration of the public interest and at the request of the victim’s family. However, this does not mean we will cease our agitation. We plan to extend our protests beyond urban areas to rural West Bengal,” a WBJDF representative stated.
To further their cause, the WBJDF has announced a protest march to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office in Salt Lake on Wednesday, a day before the Kali Puja festival. They are demanding a swift and thorough investigation into the rape and murder case, emphasizing the need for justice.
