'Action against Sandip Ghosh, removal of health secy': Junior doctors reject talks with Mamata Banerjee govt, set 5 new conditions

KOLKATA: Junior doctors on Wednesday chose to ignore a second email from Bengal govt inviting them for talks, setting down several pre-conditions and extending their cease-work, prompting govt seniors to voice their suspicion of "politics playing a role in instigating junior doctors". Reminding the doctors that as law-abiding citizens they ought to follow Supreme Court's return-to-work order, govt said "any condition (to talks) impedes open discussion".

The day started with hope, with junior doctors, who have been camping at Swasthya Bhavan since Tuesday evening, sending feelers to govt after a morning general body meeting. Prior to this, West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front sent an email to the CM at 3.49am from the dharna mancha, agreeing to a meeting but setting additional conditions.

In reply, govt sent a mail at 3.23pm inviting the junior doctors to a meeting at 6pm with a representation of 12-15, and urging them to resume duty in deference to Supreme Court's Tuesday 5pm deadline.

But, at 5.23pm, another mail from the junior doctors reached govt, in which they reiterated their terms for attending the talks — a 30-member delegation, live telecast of the talks, discussion of their five-point charter of demands and the CM's presence at the meet.

Just as on Tuesday, CM Mamata Banerjee waited till 7pm at Nabanna for the junior doctors to turn up and then left for home. In a closed-door meeting with some top industrialists in the evening, she expressed her angst that "vested interests are indulging in negative propaganda against Bengal". She also said that she had been very flexible on the issue but was frustrated with the junior doctors' refusal to even abide by SC's orders.

On Tuesday, they had demanded the resignation of the health secretary, the director medical education, director health services and Kolkata police commissioner, and departmental inquiry and disciplinary action against RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh, DC (North) and DC (Central).

State minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, chief secretary Manoj Pant and state DGP Rajeev Kumar spoke to the media after the govt's second overture failed. "The Supreme Court on Monday had directed them to resume duty by 5 pm on Tuesday. We had hoped they would abide by the SC order. When they did not do it, we invited them for a discussion. Yesterday CM Banerjee waited for them for a face-to-face meeting from 6:10 pm to 7:30 pm, but they did not turn up," she said.

Pant said the govt wanted to discuss with the doctors their safety and security concerns. "After they refused to turn up for the meeting on Tuesday, we got an email from them where they set certain conditions. We cannot go for discussions with conditions. We were hopeful for a positive and proactive response, but we are disheartened with this kind of response," he added.

DGP Kumar said the administration was "committed" to ensuring a safe working environment, "but discussions have to be done with an open mind."

Bhattacharya also said the CM had so far refused to take any negative step despite the SC order but added that the govt was keeping an eye on legal provisions. She also questioned why the protesting doctors had sent an email to the CM at 3.49am. "Is it normal to send an email to the CM at such an hour? Is there some politics behind this," she asked, urging the junior doctors not to fall prey to political provocations and to stay true to their noble profession. When asked if the govt would take any punitive measure against the doctors, she said people would come of to know if such an action was taken.

The junior doctors said they would discuss again and decide on their next course of action, but till then they would sit in protest near Swasthya Bhawan.

"We are also searching for a solution. But we want to make it clear that there is no political provocation. We wanted the discussion to be around our five demands and a larger representation from all 26 medical colleges," said Kinjal Nanda, a WBJDF representative.

"We were ready to resume work by 5 pm Tuesday had the govt granted our five demands. We are also open to discussions but with certain riders," said Aniket Mahata, another WBJDF representative.

Sources said there was difference of opinion among the junior doctors, with one section in favour of a dialogue pointing out that a prolonged cease-work might look untenable especially after the Supreme Court's directive, and another section insisting that all their demands had to be met before they resume work. The junior doctors were huddled in a series of meetings till late into the night.