'Provocations are coming from other political parties,' writes Mamata Banerjee on Kolkata doctors' protest

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday posted the details of events that took place at the Nil Ratan Sircar (NRS) Medical College and Hospital where junior doctors have been on strike protesting against the assault on a colleague by the family of a deceased patient. The assaulted doctor had suffered a fractured skull.

In the post, Banerjee says that her colleague Chandrima Banerjee, who is also the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare requested the agitating doctors to call off their protest as people were unable to get treatment for their various medical issues. She also said that cancer patients, kidney condition patients as well as accident victims and children from places afar were not getting treatment. In addition, Banerjee's colleague also met the injured doctor, she said.

Her post also mentions the arrest of five persons and their denial of bail by the court.

She further added that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government has catered well to the injured doctor who is improving.

Adding that an inquiry is in motion, the CM also mentioned about the death of a person due to treatment denial. Banerjee also added that an inquiry is in motion. She further urged the protesting doctors to resume their services and cater to the needs of patients in need of urgent medical care.

She also thanked some of the doctors for their cooperation and said:

"I am grateful to senior doctors and professors who are offering full services to the people. My humble regards to them for their cooperation."

In addition, Banerjee also went on to mention that these crisis are fuelled by rival political parties who are spreading hate across different platforms on social media.

Here's here Facebook post reproduced in full:

Mamata Banerjee

An unfortunate incident took place in NRS Hospital 3 days ago. I sent my colleague, Chandrima Bhattacharjee, Minister-of-State, Health and Family Welfare to visit the injured doctor and talk to a section of the junior doctors who are agitating and request them to withdraw the agitation as people are not getting treatment. Cancer patients, kidney patients, accident victims, even children coming from distant places are suffering for not getting treatment.

I sent Commissioner of Police, Kolkata to talk to the junior doctors. 5 persons have been arrested and their bail prayers were rejected by Ld Court. Our government has taken full care of the injured doctor. We pray that he recovers quickly. As per information received, he is stable and improving.

That day, one person died and complaint of the negligence of treatment has been lodged. An inquiry has been started to look into the issues from all sides. We have taken all necessary action whatever required - our Additional Chief Secretary, Health visited the injured doctor and met a section of the agitating junior doctors and appealed to them to resume services.

Our government is giving full co-operation and taking all necessary action. But, in spite of that, provocations are coming from other political parties, which no one should fall trapped into. Today when I visited SSKM, I saw gatherings of outsiders of different political parties shouting slogans in hospital silence zones and stopping emergency services. Patient parties are crying and outdoor services are closed. I sent some patients to private hospitals for immediate treatment.

I am grateful to senior doctors and professors who are offering full services to the people. My humble regards to them for their cooperation. Some misinformation/disinformation being spread on social media by some political parties are completely untrue.

I am uploading some pictures of suffering patient parties that I saw in SSKM today. Health service is always dedicated to patients. I, therefore, appeal to all to restore normal healthcare services to the patients without any further delay.

Jai Hind, Jai Bangla

Kolkata has been brought to a standstill by protests against violence in the state for more than a week. On June 12, BJP workers led by senior leaders of the party were repelled by water cannons by the police as they undertook a protest march to the police headquarters to demand justice for a BJP worker who was killed.