Mamata Banerjee Bows to Doctors: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee finally had to bow down to the demands of the doctors (Mamata Doctors Meeting). After the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, there has been a lot of anger among the doctors. They were continuously protesting for their demands. On Monday, CM Mamata Banerjee has accepted three out of five demands of the junior doctors, after which it is believed that the anger of the protesters may subside.
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Which demands did Mamata Banerjee accept?
Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal will be removed.
Four officers, including Kolkata (North) Deputy Commissioner, will also be removed.
Two officers associated with the health department will also be removed.
After the meeting that lasted for more than 6 hours late on Monday night, CM Mamata Banerjee said, “I think the meeting was positive. I am sure they think the same. Otherwise why would we sign the minutes of the meeting and why would they sign it?” Mamata Banerjee said that she has accepted 99 percent of the demands of the doctors, “because they are our younger brothers”.
What promises did the state make?
Mamata Banerjee has accepted the demand for improving the infrastructure of the hospital and has allocated Rs 100 crore for it.
Regarding the removal of Director of Medical Education and Director of Health Services from their posts, Mamata Banerjee said that they would be transferred to appropriate posts.
CM Mamata Banerjee said, “We are not insulting him. He has not been in the post for long. He has not done anything wrong. Students say that they do not trust him, so his removal has been agreed upon.”
CM Mamata Banerjee had earlier said that Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goel would be retained in the post at least till Durga Puja. He had asked him to resign several times, but she wanted him to continue.
After the rape-murder case on August 9, there was a demand for the removal of Vineet Goyal in view of the allegations of the police’s role in tampering with evidence. The Supreme Court and the Calcutta High Court had commented on this several times.
Last week, the CBI, which is investigating the case, arrested the former principal of the hospital, Sandeep Ghosh, and a senior local police officer.
“Fifth and final invitation for talks”
Before talking to the junior doctors, CM Mamata Banerjee had called it the fifth and last invitation.
After two failed attempts to hold talks with Chief Minister Banerjee, the protesting junior doctors came for talks again. Around 30 doctors reached Mamata Banerjee’s house at 6.20 pm under the protection of a Pilot police vehicle. The meeting which was scheduled to begin at 5 pm finally began at 7 pm and ended at 9 pm, after which the process of finalising the minutes began.
The doctors took their stenographers along to record the minutes. 40 doctors signed the document.
The deadlock demanding justice for the trainee doctor has been going on for more than a month. The Supreme Court had already ordered that doctors should return to work to take care of patients.
Even after the Supreme Court’s order, the doctors of Bengal refused to do so and due to the support of the common people, they doubled their protest.
Agreement on some demands and disagreement on others
After the meeting with the doctors, CM Mamata Banerjee said that there was agreement on some points and disagreement on some. The other demands of the agitating junior doctors will be considered by the committee led by the Chief Secretary. The new Commissioner of Kolkata Police will be appointed on Tuesday. It has been decided to remove the Director of Health Services and Director of Medical Education. 42 agitating doctors, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant have signed the minutes of the meeting.
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