Didi must visit us: Doctors in Kolkata up the ante

There is no end in sight to the impasse of doctors' strike in West Bengal. On Saturday, the protesting doctors refused to take part in a proposed meeting called by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the secretariat. This was despite repeated pleas by the state government to sit for a dialogue to end the deadlock.

"I waited for five hours yesterday. They informed us that they won't come on Friday but may come on Saturday and we kept waiting. But their delegation did not arrive," Mamata Banerjee said while addressing a press conference at state secretariat Nabanna.

"I yet again appeal to junior doctors, don't get provoked or influenced by external political pressure. Our doors are always open for talks. It is great honour to come to the state secretariat, the seat of the elected government. When the government is inviting you for talks, why remain adamant?" she asked.

On Saturday, state chief secretary Malay De informed that the state government had already met all the demands raised by the protesting doctors.

"Primarily they had two demands - security and punishment for those involved in the assault. We have taken several steps to augment security and those involved in the attack have been arrested. The injured intern is recuperating and government will bear all cost of treatment. We want to resolve this matter amicably," De said.

However, rejecting the offer, the agitating junior doctors reiterated their position that Mamata Banerjee must herself visit the NRS Medical College and Hospital first and then listen to their grievances.

"The CM has tried to say that we are against a solution and conversation but we want her to come to NRS and listen to us and take necessary steps to serve the ailing people. We are on our toes and eagerly waiting to start our duty but there is no such honest initiative from the CM's side," claimed the protesting doctors in a statement.

On Saturday, Health Secretary Rajiva Sinha met with medical superintendents of all state-run medical colleges and it was decided that an ACP-level officer will be in charge of security of all medical college hospitals in Kolkata.

Meanwhile, Governor Kesari Nath Tripathi has written to the chief minister advising her to take "immediate steps to provide security to the doctors and to take them into confidence about the firm and credible assurance of arrangements of their security as well as quick investigation of the incidents of assault on them so that suitable atmosphere is generated to enable the doctors to resume their duties".

In his letter, Tripathi expressed his "sadness" at the CM's "non responsiveness to his efforts to talk to her".

"I had suggested in my letter to you to meet the doctors and assure to provide adequate security to them and also to look into their grievances. I understand that no meeting with the agitating doctors has been held by the government till now," the Governor states in his letter.