On Saturday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had urged the junior doctors protesting the rape-murder of their colleague at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital to end their fast-unto-death.
Kolkata: Agitating junior doctors said they will attend a meeting called by the West Bengal government on Monday to resolve issues related to their demands, emphasising that its outcome will determine whether they will withdraw their indefinite hunger strike.
On Saturday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had urged the junior doctors protesting the rape-murder of their colleague at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital to end their fast-unto-death. She said most of their demands have been met but rejected their insistence on the removal of the state health secretary.
“We will attend the meeting but the hunger strike will not be withdrawn before it,” Debasish Halder, one of the agitating medics, told reporters after a general body meeting of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front on Sunday.
“The outcome of the meeting will decide in what form the agitation will continue,” he added.
Chief Secretary Manoj Pant invited the medics for a 45-minute discussion with Banerjee on Monday at the state secretariat, conditional upon the “withdrawal of the hunger strike.” However, the junior doctors maintained their demand for the resignation of Health Secretary N S Nigam.
Halder expressed concern over the health of the hunger strike participants, noting that among the eight medics currently fasting, three have been on strike since October 5, two since October 11, one since October 14, and two since October 15. Six other medics participating in the hunger strike have fallen seriously ill and required hospitalisation.
Halder said those on hunger strike will not attend the meeting due to health concerns. He highlighted that the junior doctors have previously attended all meetings called by the state government, even with very short notice.