Kolkata: The planned meeting between the protesting doctors and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna, the state secretariat, on Thursday, failed to occur.
Mamata Banerjee talks about ‘resignation’ amidst doctor’s protest in West Bengal
The protesting doctors had made it to Nabanna but had not entered the meeting hall since the administration had refused to allow a live streaming of the meeting. After waiting for almost two hours, Banerjee addressed the media. She said, “For the sake of the people, I am ready to resign, I do not want to remain the chief minister.”
Banerjee’s statement followed her request to the doctors to return to their work and clarified as to why the government disallowed live streaming. “We have no issues with live streaming; however, the subject is prejudice. We stated that every conversation would be recorded and documented. We had three cameras set up and ready. We would have shared the recordings with the protesting doctors if the Supreme Court had granted permission,” ” she remarked.
She went on, “Live streaming or a media trial cannot take place in a case that is on appeal. We made our decision based on the Supreme Court’s ruling. We even acknowledged our inability to live stream the meeting in our letter” (to the doctors).
“I waited for three days with my highest officials. I apologize to everyone in this nation and around the globe. We seek justice not only for the victim but also for the common people who are denied medical care as a result of the doctors’ continuous protests,” she further added.
Will Mamata Banerjee led government take any action against protesting doctors?
In addition, Banerjee declared, “It is our duty to tolerate,” and stated that her government will not take action against the doctors who are protesting.
The junior doctors were ordered by the Supreme Court earlier this week to return to work by Tuesday evening, with knowing that failure to do so would result in disciplinary action from the state government.
“The Supreme Court set a due date. It said that the state government could take any action following the deadline. There is nothing we are doing. To those who came to the entrance of Nabanna but didn’t join negotiations, I appeal to them to return to work,” Banerjee said.
“Few want chair…not justice,” said Banerjee
“I apologize to the people of Bengal who were hoping that today would see the resolution of this issue,” she remarked.
“A few of them (junior doctors) wanted to be in the meeting. However, three or four individuals forced the others to skip the meeting after receiving orders from outside. What they want is the chair, not justice. Both my administration and I have received insults. For the past 33 days, we have put up with a lot of jokes and insults,” Banerjee stated.
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