Post Banerjee’s visit to the protest site earlier in the day, West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front wrote to the TMC leader calling it an “exceptional goodwill gesture.”
“We are grateful that you have showed an exceptional goodwill gesture by coming amidst us in this adverse weather and shared your thoughts with us.We take this as a welcome step towards our smooth discussion and collective clarity of our five point demands for which we have been protesting peacefully for the last thirty five days,” they said in an email addressed to the CM.
Asking for the place and time of the meeting, the the email read, “We are more than willing to have a discussion in your esteemed presence with adequate representations and proper transparency as agreed by both the parties.”
Responding to this, the state government said, I am in receipt of your mail dated: 14th September 2024. In this regard, you are kindly invited for a discussion with open mind, at 6pm today (14/9/2024) at Kalighat residence of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Government of West Bengal. A delegation of 15 junior doctors may kindly attend the said meeting. We look forward to your positive response in this regard.
Earlier today, Banerjee had urged the protesting doctors to resume work saying, “I came to meet you as your ‘didi’ (elder sister), not as the chief minister,” she said. “I assure you that I will study your demands and take action if someone is found guilty.”
The junior doctors have been protesting, calling for improved security at state-run hospitals and the dismissal of senior officials after the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.