On Sunday, West Bengal Pradesh Congress President Shuvankar Sarkar visited Sagar Dutta Medical College and Hospital to show his support for the ongoing strike by junior doctors. However, his presence sparked protests from the striking doctors, who chanted “Go Back” slogans, signaling their opposition to any political interference in their movement.
Shuvankar Sarkar, who claimed to have visited without any political symbols, stated that he came to support the doctors’ protest as a concerned citizen. He denied that the doctors directly asked him to leave, explaining that they had politely requested him to distance himself due to his political identity. “I was not asked to leave with ‘Go Back’ slogans. They thanked me for not bringing any party flags but requested me to stay away because of my political identity,” Shuvankar remarked.
The junior doctors, who have been on strike since Friday night following a violent incident involving the relatives of a deceased patient, are demanding improved security measures at the hospital. They vowed not to return to work until their safety is guaranteed. The situation escalated when the patient’s family allegedly attacked doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff, causing extensive damage to hospital property. Seven people, including a police officer, were reportedly injured during the incident.
During his visit, Shuvankar stressed that political identities should not interfere with healthcare. He added, “Just like doctors don’t differentiate between patients based on religion or caste, we are here today without our political banners, standing for the people.” However, the junior doctors maintained their non-political stance, making it clear that no political figure would be allowed to use their protest platform for political purposes.
In response to the situation, the doctors’ spokesperson reiterated, “We have said from the beginning that this movement is completely non-political. Anyone who wishes to stand with us must leave their political banners at home and join us as ordinary citizens.”
As the strike continues, Shuvankar Sarkar took the opportunity to criticize the state government, calling for structural reforms in healthcare. He remarked, “It’s time the state government faces the reality and revamps the healthcare infrastructure. The current administration has failed to manage the situation, and a new health minister is urgently needed.”
The strike, led by junior doctors and supported by the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front, threatens to escalate further if their demands for safety are not met by Monday. With healthcare services already disrupted, the pressure is mounting on the state government to address the doctors’ concerns and restore normalcy at Sagar Dutta Hospital