The protesting junior doctors in Kolkata laid down new conditions for meeting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee whose government had extended “fifth and final” invitation to them for “discussion with an open mind” to end their over 35 days of “cease work”.
They asked the West Bengal government to change the venue of the meeting from CM Banerjee’s Kalighat residence to an “an official and administrative place.”
“We are happy to receive your mail for discussing this matter in the wake of public interest. As law abiding citizens we are more than willing to join you for today’s meeting, but it would have been really appreciated if the place of the meeting could have been an official and administrative place as this matter is related to governance,” the response letter by the doctors stated.
New conditions of Kolkata junior doctors for meeting CM Banerjee
1 – Meeting at an official and administrative place instead the CM’s residence.
2 – Videography of the meeting by a separate videographer by both the parties.
3 – Entire video file of the meeting to be handed over to West Bengal Junior Doctors Front (WBJDF) representatives immediately after the meeting.
4 – Minutes with full transcript of the meeting to be recorded and formulated by both the parties (WBJDF will bring their own minutes and transcript takers for the meeting) and duly signed by all attendees and handed over at the end of the meeting as stated by Honourable CM previously.
The protesting junior doctors, demanding justice for rape and murder of a 31-year-old woman trainee doctor at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, have said that the new developments, including arrests of ex-principal Sandip Ghosh and of Tala Police Station officer-in in the the case related to the rape and murder of ABHAYA , have increased the significance of transparency of the meeting even more than before.
“Please consider the above points for the meeting for our five point demands. If you are in agreement from your side kindly respond to this mail at the earliest. We are eagerly waiting for a positive response from your side,” the letter by the doctors stated.
Earlier on Monday, West Bengal Chief Secretary, Manoj Pant, had sent an email invite to the junior doctors protesting in Kolkata for a meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at 5 pm at her residence in Kalighat.
“This is the fifth and final time we are reaching out to you for a meeting between the Honourable Chief Minister and your delegates. In line with our discussion from the day before, we are once again inviting you to a meeting with the Honourable Chief Minister at her Kalighat residence for a discussion with an open mind,” the letter read.
It also mentioned that there would be no live streaming or videography of the meeting, given that the matter is sub judice in the Supreme Court.
“Instead, the minutes of the meeting will be recorded and signed by both parties,” the letter further stated.
The junior doctors have vowed to continue their protests till all their demands, including removal of Kolkata Police Commissioner and senior state health officials are met.
With inputs from agencies.
Link to article –
‘Not at CM residence’: Kolkata’s protesting doctors set condition ahead of meeting with Mamata
