West Bengal doctors demand action against attackers, to continue agitation

Hours after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gave a four hours ultimatum to agitating junior doctors across the state to resume work, Members of Joint Platform of Doctors announced that they will continue the agitation till action is taken against attackers.  

"We demand adequate security in every medical college and hospital and proper action against those who attacked doctors in NRS Hospital on June 10. We will resume working as soon as our demands are fulfilled," Members of Joint Platform of Doctors said after meeting with the Governor. 

Kolkata: Members of Joint Platform of Doctors,WB met Governor today, say,"we demand adequate security in every medical college & hospital,& proper action against those who attacked doctors in NRS Hospital on June 10. We will resume working as soon as our demands are fulfilled." pic.twitter.com/qJS4xDj2pe

— ANI (@ANI) June 13, 2019

Medical services in several parts of the state have been affected in the wake of protests by doctors over the past three days.

Meanwhile, Banerjee has written a letter to senior doctors/professors of medical colleges & hospitals requesting them to take care of patients and poor people.

"Please take care of all patients, poor people are coming from all districts. I'll be obliged & honored if you all please take full care of hospitals. they must run smoothly & peacefully," the letter reads. 

West Bengal CM writes to Senior Doctors/Professors of Medical Colleges & Hospitals, states, "Please take care of all patients, poor people are coming from all districts. I'll be obliged & honored if you all please take full care of hospitals. they must run smoothly & peacefully," pic.twitter.com/sSl9JwpDjY

— ANI (@ANI) June 13, 2019

Earlier, she visited the state-run SSKM hospital in Kolkata where she asked the agitating junior doctors, in turn, to return to work. She also directed the police to clear the hospital premises, asserting that no one apart from patients should be allowed on the campus.

Banerjee claimed that the agitation was part of a conspiracy of her political rivals.

"I condemn the agitation. The junior doctors' strike is a conspiracy by the CPI(M) and the BJP," Banerjee, who also holds the health and family welfare portfolio, said.

The Trinamool Congress  chief alleged that outsiders had entered medical colleges and hospitals to create disturbances. She also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to give the strike a communal colour.

"The BJP, with help from the CPI(M), is indulging in Hindu-Muslim politics. I am shocked to see their love affair," Banerjee said. "BJP chief Amit Shah is encouraging his party cadre to create communal tension and run a propaganda on Facebook."

The doctors, who have been agitating since Tuesday after two of their colleagues were attacked and seriously injured at the NRS medical college and hospital in Kolkata, raised "we want justice" slogans before the chief minister.

Emergency wards, outdoor facilities, pathological units of many state-run medical colleges and hospitals and a number of private medical facilities in the state have remained closed over the past two days in the wake of the protest.