Junior doctors at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College have initiated a hunger strike in response to the assault and murder of a woman doctor. They claim that the Mamata government has failed to fulfill its promises despite earlier commitments.
The junior doctors began their protest at Dorina Crossing in Dharmatala on Friday. They set a 24-hour deadline for the government to meet their demands, citing previous assurances. When the government did not respond within this timeframe, the doctors decided to continue with the hunger strike.
One junior doctor participating in the hunger strike declared, “The state government has not delivered on its promises. We will maintain our hunger strike until our demands are met. We are committed to returning to work, but we will not eat.”
Currently, six junior doctors are on hunger strike, with plans for more doctors to join the protest. To ensure transparency, the protest site features CCTV cameras.
On September 17, a meeting occurred between the junior doctors and the Mamata government, during which Didi agreed to several of their demands. Following that meeting, the government removed the Director of Medical Education, the Director of Health Services, and Kolkata CP Vinit Goyal from their positions. The doctors initially presented five demands, and the government accepted three, leading to a temporary suspension of their protest. However, the doctors resumed their protest when the government failed to meet the remaining two demands.