Mamata Banerjee visits protest site, urges doctors to resume work; will not compromise, say protestors

KOLKATA: Amid the continuing impasse, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday made a surprise visit to the site where the junior doctors were protesting, and assured them that she would look into their demands and take action if anyone was found guilty.

Addressing the protesting doctors amid chants of 'we want justice' outside the Swasthya Bhawan in Salt Lake, Banerjee said she would not take any steps against them as she did not believe in suppressing a democratic movement. "Bengal is not Uttar Pradesh," she said. However, after she left the site, the agitating doctors said they were not ready to compromise on their demands till discussions were held, indicating no immediate breakthrough in the impasse.

Accompanied by DGP Rajiv Kumar, Banerjee reached the site in Sector 5 around 1 pm, taking those present there by surprise. She said she was spending sleepless nights as the medics were agitating on the road amid rains. "I came to meet you as your 'didi' (elder sister) not as the chief minister," she said. "I assure you that I will study your demands and take action if someone is found guilty," she added, urging the protesting doctors to return to work.

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She also announced that patient welfare committees of all state-run hospitals were dissolved with immediate effect. "This is my last attempt to resolve the crisis," Banerjee said. The medics have been camping outside Swasthya Bhawan, the headquarters of the state Health Department, since Tuesday with a host of demands, including better security at state-run hospitals and the removal of top officials over the rape and murder of the doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The junior doctors have been protesting for over a month, affecting the public healthcare infrastructure of the state. The government claimed that 29 people have died due to the protests allegedly after not receiving treatment.