Mamata Banerjee visits protesting doctors, makes emotional plea: 'I know your pain'

Chief Minister of the Indian state of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, made an unplanned visit to the Swasthya Bhawan on Saturday (Sep 14), where junior doctors were staging a protest over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor from RG Kar Medical College. The CM urged them to resume their duties.

Amid the chants of the protesters, Banerjee spoke to them in Bengali, saying, "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, your voice is. It was raining all night and you suffered. I couldn't sleep either because I was feeling bad."

She went on to say, “I have spent sleepless nights as you have been protesting on the road amid rain. I will study the demands, I don't run the government alone. I will speak to the chief secretary, home secretary and director general of police. Action will be taken against those who are found guilty. I want justice for Tilottama (the name given to the woman who was raped and murdered). From your platform, I will request the CBI to speed up the investigation. I request you, I need some time to consider your demands. If you trust me, come and talk to me, I will look into your demands.”

Banerjee also assured them, "Return to work. I will ensure that no injustice happens. I will set up committees in every hospital which will have senior and junior doctors as members. Everyone found guilty will be punished, it is not like they are my friends (referring to the demand for the resignation of some officials). Please talk amongst yourselves and return to work, I will not take any action. In Uttar Pradesh, action was taken, I won't do that. I know you work a lot, I know how important you are.”

She concluded by saying, “This is my last attempt to resolve the crisis... if you keep your faith in me, I will look into your complaints. The case is on in the Supreme Court (which had set a September 10 deadline for the doctors to return to work) and the next hearing is on Tuesday. I don't want you to suffer. I have come to make a request as your'didi'(big sister), not as a chief minister. I am empathetic and I support your protest... I had also gone on a hunger strike for 26 days (during the protest against the acquisition of farmland in Singur), but no one from the then government came to speak to me.”

Despite her appeal, the protesting doctors stood firm on their demands and stated that they would not compromise until discussions were held. Their protest outside the state health department in Salt Lake had entered its fifth day as ofSaturday.

The junior doctors are seeking justice for the rape and murder of the trainee doctor from RG Kar Medical College, even as the city experiences heavy rainfall. They have ignored the Supreme Court’s September 10, 5:00 pmdeadline to return to work.

The protest, which began on the evening of August 9, demands the suspension of key officials including Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, Health Secretary NS Nigam, Director of Health Services, and Director of Medical Education for allegedly failing in their responsibilities regarding the RG Kar incident.

(With inputs from agencies)