Kolkata Doctors' Continue Protest After SC’s Deadline Ends, Abhaya's Parents Join Them

Kolkata: Doctors in West Bengal continued their overnight protest on Tuesday, despite receiving an invitation from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for a meeting at the state secretariat. The protesting doctors, however, rejected the invite, stating that the email they received came from the Health Secretary of West Bengal, whose removal they are demanding.

Despite a Supreme Court order directing the doctors to return to work by 5pm on Tuesday, the protest continued, with the doctors defying the court’s directive. The West Bengal government had invited a delegation of 10 doctors to discuss their grievances with the Chief Minister, but the doctors refused the invitation.

RG Kar trainee doctor who was brutally raped and murdered, her parents also joined the protest. Protest continued overnight with candles lit around 3.30AM . Protesters raised slogans demanding ‘Justice for Abhaya’. Her parents also joined the protest with doctors. 

Speaking to a news agency, Abhaya’s father expressed his anger over how the case was handled by the state authorities. “The cremation cost was 400 rupees, and they didn’t even let me do it. She was my daughter, but they took my wife’s signature and cremated her,” he said during the protest.

According to Trinamool Congress ( TMC ) minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, CM Mamata Banerjee waited at the state secretariat until 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday for the doctors. “A mail was sent at 6:10 p.m., inviting a 10-member delegation to discuss their concerns with the Chief Minister, but no response was received,” Bhattacharya said.

The doctors are protesting over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, and their protest has persisted for nearly a month. They are seeking justice for their colleague and demanding stronger safety measures for medical professionals.

The protest has intensified after weeks of tension between the medical professionals and the state government. Earlier, Mamata Banerjee had criticised the doctors for continuing the protest, and the government had set a deadline for them to return to work. However, the doctors have put forth their demands in front of the state government. 

As the standoff continues, the state’s healthcare services remain affected.