RG Kar Doctors Demand Kolkata Top Cop's Removal As Deadlock With Mamata Continues

Kolkata: A crucial meeting between protesting doctors and Mamata Banerjee , which lasted for about two hours, failed to yield any breakthrough, according to sources. The meeting took place at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee 's residence. Sources have said that the protesting doctors demanded the resignation of Kolkata police commissioner, however, it is yet to be confirmed whether this was accepted by Bengal Chief Minister.

Earlier today, protesting doctors agreed to meet Mamata Banerjee at her residence after the latter accepted one of the demands of allowing Stenographers during the meeting. The medics have been protesting in Kolkata demanding justice for trainee-doctor who was raped and murdered at the state-run RG Kar Hospital.

There are allegations against the Mamata government that her administration tried to cover-up the investigation and also sabotaged the evidences initially when the state police was heading the probe.        

Doctors-Mamata meet after days of deadlock

After four unsuccessful bids to initiate a dialogue to resolve the deadlock, a delegation of agitating junior doctors arrived at her residence for the crucial talks on Monday evening.

Escorted by a pilot police vehicle, around 30 medics arrived at Banerjee's residence at 6.20 pm. The meeting, which was originally scheduled at 5 pm, began around 7 pm and is still continuing.

Ahead of the meeting, Banerjee, while speaking to a Bengali news channel, appealed to the junior doctors to end the cease work.

What led to delay in Mamata-Doctors Meeting?

Previous attempts to resolve the issue got stuck due to the state government's rejection of the doctors' demand for live-streaming and video recordings of the meeting.

The agitating medics later agreed to a compromise, now only asking to record the minutes of the meeting and receive a signed copy.

The state government accepted this condition, with Chief Secretary Manoj Pant saying both parties will sign the minutes of the meeting and share copies for clarity.

The state government also allowed the two stenographers, accompanying the agitating doctors, inside the venue to record the minutes of the meeting. The agitating doctors, however, have stuck to their demands.

"We also want the issue to be resolved but not at the cost of any form of compromise on our five demands. We are going to the meeting to discuss all the issues with an open mind," an agitating doctor, who is present at the meeting, said before leaving for the talks.

Doctors protest continue 

Meanwhile, the doctors continued their sit-in outside Swasthya Bhawan, the headquarters of the Health Department, for eight days and the 'cease work' for the 36th day seeking justice for the doctor who was raped-murdered at RG Kar Hospital and removal of Kolkata Police Commissioner and senior state health officials.

Earlier in the day, the state government "for the fifth and the final time" invited the protesting doctors for talks to end the impasse, two days after the dialogue failed to take off over disagreement on live-streaming of the meeting.

With inputs from PTI