Kolkata: In a dramatic turn of events, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the removal of two top state health officials and the Kolkata Police Commissioner following intense negotiations with protesting doctors. The decision comes amid ongoing protests demanding justice and reforms in the healthcare sector.
Key Announcements:
- Removal of Officials: CM Banerjee confirmed the removal of Dr. Kaustav Nayek, Director of Medical Education (DME), and Dr. Debashish Halder, Director of Health Services (DHS). Additionally, Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Abhishek Gupta will be relieved of their duties.
- New Appointments: A new police commissioner for Kolkata will be appointed on Tuesday, as Vineet Goyal expressed his desire to step down.
Protests Continue:
Despite these significant changes, trainee doctors have vowed to continue their protests until the removed officials are completely ousted from their roles. Dr. Aniket Roy, a spokesperson for the protesting doctors, stated, “We will discuss with our fellow students and decide our future course of action. We have already informed the Chief Minister of this”.
Demands and Responses:
The doctors had presented five key demands, including strict punishment for those involved in the rape and murder of a trainee doctor, action against former RG Kar Medical College principal Sandip Ghosh, and improved security for healthcare workers. While Banerjee claimed to have addressed “99 percent” of the demands, the doctors remain firm in their stance.
Background:
The protests were sparked by the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor on August 9, which has led to nationwide outrage. The doctors are demanding justice and accountability, emphasizing that their strike will continue until all their demands are met.
Next Steps:
The doctors have highlighted two significant arrests related to the case and stressed the need for transparency in the ongoing discussions. They have requested that the meetings be videotaped or that a complete video file be provided to the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Federation (WBJDF) representatives immediately after the meetings.
As the situation unfolds, the state government and the protesting doctors remain at an impasse, with the public eagerly awaiting further developments.
