Junior doctors’ union skips Nabanna march, calls ‘big’ protest rally today

The doctors’ rally is scheduled to begin at Shyambazar and culminate at Dharmatala, the organisers said.

“We urge everyone to make this rally successful, to solidify the ground for our movement and to ensure that our collective demands are heard by those who may still be pretending not to listen to us,” said a doctor associated with the Forum which raised concerns about threats the healthcare workers continue to face.

In a meeting attended by people from various walks of life on Monday, the Forum reiterated its five demands, including adequate measures to ensure the safety of women healthcare workers and setting up a fast-track court to try the rape-murder accused.

“Today marks the 18th day of our justice movement. The broad presence of people from all sections of society demonstrates that the fire of our movement cannot be extinguished,” read a statement issued by the forum on Tuesday.

Among those who extended their support to the protest included doctor and rights activist Binayak Sen, academic Miratun Nahar, social activist Bolan Ganguly, actors Jitu Kamal, Debolina Dutta and Mir Afsar Ali besides representatives from several doctors’ associations.

The Forum further said, “We would like to highlight two incidents that occurred today.

The first incident took place at the Manicktala boys’ hostel of the RG Kar Hospital, where senior students threatened first-year MBBS students with false police complaints if they did not sign a blank paper. The second incident occurred at the outpatient department of NRS Medical College, where a female worker was attacked. These incidents highlight the threat culture prevalent in healthcare institutions.”

The Forum claims to have received widespread backing and urged the general public to continue to support it.

The Forum’s key demands are 1) identify the culprits involved in the RG Kar incident and give them exemplary punishment; 2) identify and investigate all individuals directly or indirectly involved in the destruction of evidence and suspend then RG Kar principal Dr Sandip Ghosh from the health department; 3) resignation of the Kolkata commissioner and probe into police lapses in the case; 4) end the ‘politics of fear’ in every college, ensure democratic elections and the participation of junior doctors and students in all decision-making committees of medical colleges; and 5) ensure adequate security measures and amenities for doctors in hospitals with an immediate effect.