KOLKATA: Junior doctors protesting in Kolkata over the rape-murder of a 31-year-old doctor have responded positively to the Mamata Banerjee government's invitation for "fifth and final" talks. A group is on its way to his Kalighat residence -- where the last round of negotiations broke down before it could take place. The factor on which meeting videography broke down, however, has become more prominent.
In their response, the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front pointed to the recent CBI arrest in an evidence tampering case and said that this development increases the importance of transparency.
In an email sent to the doctors by Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant earlier in the day, they were invited for an interaction at the Chief Minister's residence at Kalighat in South Kolkata at 5 pm. Junior doctors said they were "more than willing" to join the meeting, but would prefer an "official and administrative venue" as the venue.
Junior doctors Dr. Former Principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The new charge of tampering with evidence against Sandeep Ghosh drew attention to where the incident took place. Officer-in-charge of Tala Police Station Abhijeet Mandal has also been arrested in this connection.
"These two new developments make the transparency of the meeting more important than ever. We want to insist on 1) videography of the meeting by separate videographers from both parties," the doctors said, reiterating their demand for videography. Ahead of the meeting, a spat broke out between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and junior doctors over demands for live-streaming and videography. The state government has said that this cannot be allowed as the matter is sub judice.
In their latest email, the doctors have given options to the state government. They have said that if videography by separate videographers from both parties is not possible, the state government will have to agree to give video of the proceedings to the junior doctors immediately after the meeting. The state government had earlier said that they would provide the video only after permission from the Supreme Court.
Adding another option in their new email, the doctors said the minutes of the meeting will be recorded by both parties along with a complete transcript and will be handed over at the end of the meeting after signing by all present. Earlier, the state government had agreed to provide a signed copy of the minutes of the meeting. The doctors have clarified that they will bring their representatives to take the minutes.
"Please consider the above points for meeting our five point demands. If you agree from your side, please reply to this mail at the earliest. We are eagerly waiting for your positive response," the doctors' body said. . said.
Earlier today, Chief Secretary Pant told the doctors in an email that this is the "fifth and final time" that the state government is approaching them for a meeting with the Chief Minister. "We trust that good understanding will prevail, and as mutually agreed and as per your statement to the media - there will be no live streaming or videography of the meeting, although the matter is sub judice in the highest court of the country. Instead, the minutes of the meeting will be recorded and It will be signed by both parties," the chief secretary said.
The junior doctors protesting the August 9 incident have several demands, including the removal of some top state officials. The Supreme Court had earlier asked them to join work by September 10, but they have insisted that they will not join duty until their demands are met.
Earlier, dramatic scenes were created in the meeting held between the Chief Minister and the junior doctors. On September 12, doctors went to the State Secretariat Nabanna to meet Ms Banerjee, but refused to join the meeting after they were told that the proceedings could not be live-streamed. Scenes of Ms Banerjee waiting for junior doctors went viral and she said she waited for two hours.
A second meeting was organized on Saturday after the chief minister's surprise visit to the doctors' protest site at the state health secretariat. The junior doctors reached his house at 6.45 pm. Again, doctors' demand for live-streaming and officials' refusal proved a roadblock. Doctors were waiting outside the Chief Minister's house in the rain. They demanded that they be allowed to videograph the meeting. The state government denied this and said it would record the meeting and the recording would be provided to the doctors later as the matter was sub judice.
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Mrs. Banerjee came out and called the doctors inside. "You can trust me, I won't lead you astray. Even if you don't come to the meeting, at least have a cup of tea." She also said the doctors were "insulting" her. The doctors insisted that they wanted a recording. She then said that I "can't accept all your demands". Later that night, the doctors decided to join the meeting but state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya and chief secretary Manoj Pant told them it was too late.
Please consider the above points for meeting our five point demands
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