In Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday she was "ready to resign" for the "good of the people" and lamented the refusal of junior doctors to attend talks to resolve the impasse over the R G Kar rape and murder case. .
Banerjee, who waited for nearly two hours for the agitated doctors to come to the meeting, said she too wanted the victim to get justice and apologized to the people of West Bengal for the continued stalemate.
"We have tolerated a lot of deception and insults over the past 33 days," he said at a news conference, but assured protesters that despite violating the Supreme Court's directive by not resuming his duties, he would take no action against them. In a dramatic turn of events, the agitated young doctors, who reached the gates of the Nabanna state secretariat, refused to hold talks with the state government unless their demand for live telecast of the meeting was met.
The talks were to be held at 5:00 p.m. in the presence of Banerjee, as demanded by the protesters, who, after arriving at the secretariat around 5:25 p.m., remained at the door of the premises.
Banerjee said the meeting with the junior doctors cannot be telecast live as demanded because the issue is subjudice and before the Supreme Court. He said his government had made arrangements to record it and hand it over to him with the permission of the high court if necessary. “For the sake of the people, I am willing to resign. I also want justice to be done for the victim, but this is not the way.” "We have tolerated a lot of deception and insults during the last 33 days. Young doctors thought we will engage in conversations for the good of patients and for humanitarian reasons," he said.
"We have been waiting for more than two hours, waiting for reason to guide the young doctors... I apologize to the people who expected the problem to be resolved today," he said, claiming that "external instructions" were influencing some young people . doctors not to engage in discussions.
Referring to the negative comments against his government on social media, he said: "Many tried to defame our government even on social media. People came out to ask for justice but they don't know that there is a political color that diverts it... They want justice." presidency. I am ready to resign from my position for the sake of the people. I do not want the presidency."Noting that around 27 patients have died and approximately 7 lakh people have suffered due to the current 'cessation of work' by the Young doctors, Banerjee said: "I also want justice for the victim, but the doctors must go back to work after the Supreme Court verdict."
The prime minister added that she does not act against agitating doctors and has forgiven them as she is "senior than the doctors".
"I keep saying that I will not take any action against them for not coming and making us wait two hours. I will forgive them because as elders it is our responsibility to forgive the younger ones," he said. "I waited three days for them to come, but they did not come... "They violated the SC directive. They have not returned to work. But we have not taken any action since sometimes we have to face these types of situations with patience." " she said.
Banerjee said she wanted to talk to them with an open mind as solutions can only be reached through discussions.
Banerjee said some of the young doctors were only taking instructions "from outside." "I know many in the delegation were interested in the talks. But two or three people were taking instructions from outside. We have seen it in the media, as the press recorded. They received instructions asking them not to negotiate, not to go to the meeting," said the prime minister.
He further stated that those behind the political background "don't want justice. They want the presidency."
"Uttar Pradesh has taken action (in cases of stalemate). We also have ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act), but I will not use it. I am not a supporter of Emergency," she said. Banerjee urged doctors to return to work , emphasizing that people are suffering, including those who need heart or kidney operations and women in advanced stages of pregnancy.
"If the families of patients suffering because of the protest want a response from us, we will be prepared for it," she added.
"I have tried my best to talk to the doctors. I apologize to the people of West Bengal, the people of the country and the world that supports them. We also want justice for the victim and for the patients of West Bengal who are suffering," he said. The young doctors began their strike on August 9, hours after the student's body was found in the hospital's seminar room. Since then, the protest has intensified, leading to disruptions in healthcare services at state hospitals across West Bengal.
Banerjee, who waited for nearly two hours for the agitated doctors to come to the meeting, said she too wanted the victim to get justice and apologized to the people of West Bengal for the continued stalemate.
"We have tolerated a lot of deception and insults over the past 33 days," he said at a news conference, but assured protesters that despite violating the Supreme Court's directive by not resuming his duties, he would take no action against them. In a dramatic turn of events, the agitated young doctors, who reached the gates of the Nabanna state secretariat, refused to hold talks with the state government unless their demand for live telecast of the meeting was met.
The talks were to be held at 5:00 p.m. in the presence of Banerjee, as demanded by the protesters, who, after arriving at the secretariat around 5:25 p.m., remained at the door of the premises.
Banerjee said the meeting with the junior doctors cannot be telecast live as demanded because the issue is subjudice and before the Supreme Court. He said his government had made arrangements to record it and hand it over to him with the permission of the high court if necessary. “For the sake of the people, I am willing to resign. I also want justice to be done for the victim, but this is not the way.” "We have tolerated a lot of deception and insults during the last 33 days. Young doctors thought we will engage in conversations for the good of patients and for humanitarian reasons," he said.
"We have been waiting for more than two hours, waiting for reason to guide the young doctors... I apologize to the people who expected the problem to be resolved today," he said, claiming that "external instructions" were influencing some young people . doctors not to engage in discussions.
Referring to the negative comments against his government on social media, he said: "Many tried to defame our government even on social media. People came out to ask for justice but they don't know that there is a political color that diverts it... They want justice." presidency. I am ready to resign from my position for the sake of the people. I do not want the presidency."Noting that around 27 patients have died and approximately 7 lakh people have suffered due to the current 'cessation of work' by the Young doctors, Banerjee said: "I also want justice for the victim, but the doctors must go back to work after the Supreme Court verdict."
The prime minister added that she does not act against agitating doctors and has forgiven them as she is "senior than the doctors".
"I keep saying that I will not take any action against them for not coming and making us wait two hours. I will forgive them because as elders it is our responsibility to forgive the younger ones," he said. "I waited three days for them to come, but they did not come... "They violated the SC directive. They have not returned to work. But we have not taken any action since sometimes we have to face these types of situations with patience." " she said.
Banerjee said she wanted to talk to them with an open mind as solutions can only be reached through discussions.
Banerjee said some of the young doctors were only taking instructions "from outside." "I know many in the delegation were interested in the talks. But two or three people were taking instructions from outside. We have seen it in the media, as the press recorded. They received instructions asking them not to negotiate, not to go to the meeting," said the prime minister.
He further stated that those behind the political background "don't want justice. They want the presidency."
"Uttar Pradesh has taken action (in cases of stalemate). We also have ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act), but I will not use it. I am not a supporter of Emergency," she said. Banerjee urged doctors to return to work , emphasizing that people are suffering, including those who need heart or kidney operations and women in advanced stages of pregnancy.
"If the families of patients suffering because of the protest want a response from us, we will be prepared for it," she added.
"I have tried my best to talk to the doctors. I apologize to the people of West Bengal, the people of the country and the world that supports them. We also want justice for the victim and for the patients of West Bengal who are suffering," he said. The young doctors began their strike on August 9, hours after the student's body was found in the hospital's seminar room. Since then, the protest has intensified, leading to disruptions in healthcare services at state hospitals across West Bengal.
