‘Total strike’ on Oct 22 if all demands not met by Monday: Junior doctors
On Saturday, the junior doctors will take out a “justice march” from Sodepur to Dharmatala. They said “significant public participation” is expected.
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The decision was taken after discussions with senior doctors, the protesting doctors said on Friday evening. (File Photo)JUNIOR DOCTORS in West Bengal, who have been on an indefinite hunger strike since October 5 demanding justice in the RG Kar rape and murder case as well upgrade of security infrastructure at medical establishments across the state, on Friday issued a “final ultimatum” to the TMC government, demanding a resolution to their pending demands by Monday (October 21). They warned of launching a “total strike” on Tuesday, which will see participation from both junior and senior doctors at private and state-run hospitals, if their demands are not met.
The decision was taken after discussions with senior doctors, the protesting doctors said on Friday evening. Debashis Halder, one of the protesters, said, “If the Chief Minister does not accept our demands by Monday, we will have no option and will be forced to call for a complete strike in the health sector on Tuesday,” he said.
Halder added, “We have set a deadline: Monday. The CM has to accept all our demands. If not, on Tuesday, all senior and junior doctors and every [medical] association will be forced to go on a complete strike in the health sector in public and private hospitals.”
Junior doctors have been on a hunger strike in front of the Metro Channel in Dharmatala for 13 days now, demanding the fulfillment of their 10-point demands. Three doctors, Sayantani Ghosh Hazra, Snigdha Hazra and Arnav Banerjee, have been on an “indefinite fast” from the beginning of the strike.
On Friday, Sayantani Ghosh held a press conference, questioning Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee about the government’s “inaction” on their demands. “The Chief Minister is not thinking about us even once,” she alleged, expressing disappointment at the “lack of support” from the government.
Even as the health conditions of some of the striking doctors have been deteriorating, they have received widespread support from the public. A large number of people have visited the protest site to express their solidarity. However, the junior doctors continue to wait for a response from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
On Saturday, the junior doctors will take out a “justice march” from Sodepur to Dharmatala. They said “significant public participation” is expected.
Rumelika, another doctor on hunger strike, expressed her frustration with the government’s “indifference”. “We should not be sitting here starving like this,” she said.
It’s worth noting that the hunger strike began on October 5, with seven doctors initially participating. Four of them have since been hospitalized due to deteriorating health, leaving three doctors continuing the fast.
In addition to the Dharmatala protest, junior doctors from North Bengal Medical College and Hospital are also on hunger strike. Two doctors from north Bengal have been admitted to hospital, even as others have joined the protest.
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