WB CM Mamata Banerjee Meets Junior Doctors, Agrees to Key Demands Including Removal of Top Officials
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has agreed to the key demands of protesting junior doctors, including the removal of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal and senior health department officials. The meeting, held in response to the ongoing protests against the state’s handling of a junior doctor’s death and administrative issues, resulted in significant concessions.
During the two-hour-long discussion with the junior doctors, CM Banerjee announced that Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal had agreed to resign. Goyal would hand over his responsibilities to the new commissioner by 4 PM the same day. Additionally, Deputy Commissioner of North Kolkata, Abhishek Gupta, will also be removed from his position.
Banerjee expressed her efforts to listen to the junior doctors’ concerns, agreeing to three out of their four demands. However, she urged them to return to work, highlighting the need to prevent further suffering for the general public. The removal of two top health officials, including the Director of Medical Education (DME) and the Director of Health Services (DHS), was also discussed, with the CM accepting the demand for two removals.
This meeting follows a press conference held by the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front and Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA), which highlighted their demands. The demands included justice for the victim, “Abhaya”, a second-year postgraduate trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College on August 9. The doctors called for an expedited investigation into the case and accountability for police officials accused of administrative failure and tampering with evidence.
Key points discussed in the meeting:
- Resignation of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal: Goyal agreed to step down, addressing the junior doctors’ call for accountability in the ongoing investigation.
- Removal of Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Gupta: CM Banerjee confirmed Gupta’s removal and pledged further review of the police administration.
- Health Department Reforms: Two senior health officials, including the DME and DHS, will be removed as per the doctors’ demands.
- Justice for “Abhaya”: The junior doctors reiterated their demand for swift justice and transparency in the case investigation.
- Security for Doctors: Banerjee assured enhanced security measures for healthcare professionals following the incident.
Despite the progress made in the meeting, junior doctors maintained that they would not call off their protests until a general body meeting reviews the outcomes and decides on the next steps.
