Ready to quit, says West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee as protesting doctors skip meeting

Digital Desk: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday made a dramatic declaration that she was "ready to quit her chair" for the sake of justice, amidst ongoing protests related to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. However, Banerjee also suggested that the protests might be politically motivated.

The controversy erupted when doctors at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital went on strike, demanding justice for the victim. Despite a Supreme Court directive for the doctors to resume work by September 10 evening, the strike persisted. Banerjee's administration had committed to negotiating with the doctors, but talks have stalled for the third consecutive day.

In her statement, Banerjee indicated that while most doctors were willing to meet, a small group appeared intent on creating a stalemate. She implied that these protests could be driven by political agendas, specifically suggesting possible support from the Left.

Banerjee expressed frustration over the impasse, noting that she had waited for two hours at the state secretariat to engage with the doctors, who ultimately refused to meet unless the proceedings were live-streamed. The Chief Minister assured that her government was prepared for live telecast but highlighted legal constraints due to the ongoing court case.

"We had all systems in place to record the meeting for transparency and accurate documentation," Banerjee said. "We were even willing to share the recording with the Supreme Court, but due to legal restrictions, we could not discuss case details publicly."

The Chief Minister's readiness to resign underscores the high stakes and intense emotions surrounding this case. As the deadlock persists, the focus remains on finding a resolution that addresses both the demands of the protesting doctors and the legal constraints of the case.