Junior doctors in Kolkata continue their sit-in protest at Dharmatala, following a rally from SSKM Hospital to the protest site on Friday. They announced the withdrawal of their work strike while placing a 24-hour ultimatum on the state government to meet their 10-point safety demands. In a firm warning, the junior doctors stated that failure to meet their demands would result in an indefinite hunger strike.
24-Hour Ultimatum with a Countdown Clock
On Friday evening, the junior doctors brought a clock to the protest site, symbolizing the countdown of the 24-hour ultimatum. They declared, “We have brought this clock with us to track every minute and hour. If our demands are not met within the next 24 hours, we will begin an indefinite hunger strike, risking our lives for justice.” As of midnight, approximately 14 hours had passed since their announcement. With around 10 hours remaining, the junior doctors await a government response.
10-Point Demand for Safety
The junior doctors have repeatedly raised concerns about the lack of safety measures for medical practitioners. During a press conference, they emphasized, “We are sitting here with a 10-point demand. The state government claimed in the Supreme Court that 26% of the promised work has been completed, but in reality, not even 6% has been implemented. We are fighting for justice, to ensure that incidents like the RG Kar Medical College attack are never repeated.”
This ongoing protest has now entered its 58th day, with doctors continuing their call for urgent action to ensure the safety of medical professionals in hospitals across West Bengal.
Protest Logistics and Challenges
On Friday night, junior doctors alleged that police interference prevented decorators from setting up a proper stage for their sit-in. As a result, the protesters took matters into their own hands and constructed the stage themselves, covering it with tarps to shield from rain.
Simultaneously, the junior doctors announced the partial withdrawal of their work strike, and several doctors returned to emergency services on Friday night. At Kolkata Medical College and other medical institutions, junior doctors were seen providing emergency care, including performing critical surgeries, demonstrating their commitment to patient care despite the ongoing protest.