Kolkata rape-murder: IMA announces nationwide hunger strike on October 15; issues directives

NEW DELHI: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a fasting protest on October 15 from morning 6 am to evening 6 pm demanding justice for the RG Kar victim. The junior doctors at RG Kar Hospital are on a ‘hunger strike’ for their legitimate demands and today is their 9th day of fasting. Till now, three of the protestors have been hospitalized.

The IMA movement aims to support the people and has demanded CM Mamata Banerjee’s acceptance of their demands, the official IMA statement said.

IMA’s national president RV Asokan met young doctors on strike and the leaders of the ongoing movement. IMA Bengal state is actively supporting the young doctors led by the state president Dilip Kumar Datta and state secretary Santanu Sen, the official IMA statement added.

“An emergency meeting of all the state presidents and state secretaries is hereby convened in Zoom platform at 4:30 pm today Sunday, October 13, 2024. The link will be sent separately. All IMA headquarters, office Bearers, along with IMA JDN IMA MSN office bearers, and the action committee members are expected to join,” the official IMA notice adds.

Also read RG Kar impasse: Doctors' body writes to Mamata Banerjee, urges to address grievances

IMA directives to support movement

The IMA committee discussed the issues and has decided to support the junior doctor's movement. Accordingly, the following directions are given:

• Nationwide protest will be led by IMA JDN and IMA MSN

• The fasting will begin from dawn to dusk between 6 am and 6 pm on Tuesday and IMA JDN will coordinate with RDAs as well as support their local actions

• IMA MSN will synchronize with IMA JDN and IMA MSN

• All IMA state branches and IMA local branches are directed to take charge of the situation and provide all required support and assistance.

• The venue of the protest should be ideally their medical colleges in/ near the campuses.

• Close coordination and facilitation will be the responsibility of the mother local branch.

• All state branches should swing into action so that the protest is held in all the medical colleges in their jurisdiction.

• A comprehensive report with photographs may be sent electronically.