Kolkata rape and murder case: Junior doctors welcome Mamata’s surprise visit, invited to CM’s residence for talks | Latest News India

On Saturday, angry junior doctors expressed their desire to hold talks with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to resolve the RG Kar standoff, soon after the TMC chief visited the protest site. In a letter to the state government, the junior doctors welcomed the chief minister’s surprise visit to their protest site outside ‘Swasthya Bhavan’, the health ministry headquarters.

“CM Mamata Banerjee has come to our protest venue. We are happy that the door for discussion and dialogue has been opened on both sides. In this regard, we have also sent a letter to the CM’s office, saying that we are very happy with her coming and are ready to discuss the five-point demand given to her by the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front,” said Dr Arif, one of the protesters. “We are ready to discuss whenever they call us.”

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The state government has since invited the angry doctors to a meeting with Banerjee at her residence, scheduled for 6 pm on Saturday.

General secretary Manoj Pant confirmed that 15 representatives of the group have been invited to attend the discussions, which are expected to focus on the doctors’ demands, including those relating to security and the investigation into the rape and murder of a fellow doctor at RG Kar Medical College.

Also Read | New twist in Kolkata rape case, TMC’s Kunal Ghosh claims ‘conspiracy’ to attack doctors, releases audio clip

What Mamata Banerjee said to protesting doctors

Earlier in the day, Banerjee made a surprise visit to the protest site, where doctors have been camping since Tuesday. Addressing the crowd, which intermittently chanted “We want justice,” Banerjee urged the doctors to end their protest, promising to look into their demands.

“I have come to meet you as your ‘didi’ (elder sister), not as your chief minister,” she told the doctors, who have been on strike for over a month. “I assure you that I will look into your demands and take action if anyone is found guilty,” she added, referring to the rape and murder case that sparked the protests.

“It rained all night on Friday. The way you are sitting here, I am also suffering. I have not slept night after night for the last 34 days either because if you are on the road, I also have to stay awake as a guard,” Banerjee said.

The protests have had a severe impact on public health services, with the state government saying 29 deaths have occurred due to treatment delays resulting from the strike.

With the government’s invitation to meet now extended, both sides are awaiting the outcome of the talks, hoping to end a protracted impasse that has crippled state medical services.