Mamata Banerjee visits doctors’ protest site as ‘didi’, to resolve crisis

Taking a surprise step to end the impasse between her government and protesting doctors, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the site where the medics are staging a sit-in and addressed them. on Saturday

The doctors have been protesting since a trainee doctor was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata last month and began a sit-in outside Swasthya Bhavan, the headquarters of the West Bengal health department, on Tuesday.

Ms Banerjee reached the protest site today and struck a conciliatory tone, asking if she could address the doctors. Amid slogan-shouting she said in Bengali, "Please listen to me for five minutes and then shout slogans, it is your democratic right to do so. I have been waiting for a long time. Against the advice of my security officers, I have come here to salute your protests. I have also been part of student movements, I know my post is not a big deal, but your voice is. It was raining all night and you suffered. I couldn't sleep either because I was feeling bad."

Banerjee said that she came to meet the doctors as their 'didi' (elder sister) and not as chief minister. "I came to meet you as your 'didi' not as chief minister. My post is not big. I am here to tell you that please don't do this. I promise you that we will fulfill your demands. I want justice for the trainee doctor," she said.

Speaking to the doctors, Banerjee also announced that patient welfare committees of all state-run hospitals were dissolved with immediate effect. "This is my last attempt to resolve the crisis," Banerjee said.

After the chief minister left the site, the agitating doctors said they were not ready to compromise on their demands till discussions were held. The doctors have been camping outside Swasthya Bhawan, with a list of demands, including better security at state-run hospitals and the removal of top officials over the rape and murder of the doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.