A dramatic back-and-forth over emails on Wednesday (September 11) resulted in a deadlock between junior doctors on protest over the RG Kar rape-murder and the Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal.
Chief Secretary Manoj Pant said despite efforts, the state government failed to elicit a positive response from the protesters. He took exception to their insistence on holding talks on their terms, saying this attitude does not bode well for a discussion.
“We mailed them today as well, we requested them to come and meet us today. We wanted to tell them what we are planning. Unfortunately, their response was not positive,” he said, indicating that there has been no headway since the two sides exchanged at least five mails over 24 hours.
During a press conference, alongside state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya and West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar, Pant further said the state government asked the agitating doctors to return to work and he is hoping that they abide by the Supreme Court directions.
This comes after the doctors refused to back down, insisting on a face-to-face meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and a larger team of 30 representatives from their side to hold the talks with the government. “They sent an email, they want 30 people to be present… No discussion can take place with condition. We thought we will have an open discussion. This attitude is not correct,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the doctors wrote to the chief minister seeking an appointment to resolve the impasse. They, however, set several terms and conditions for the meeting, including the key demand for a live telecast of open talks instead of a closed-door meeting. Following this, the chief secretary invited a delegation of not more than 15 doctors to state secretariat Nabanna for talks.
‘Don’t fall for political provocation’
Kumar promised a secure environment for the doctors, advising them not to take the matter into a wrong direction. But, Bhattacharya claimed that there were political reasons for the stalemate between the government and the doctors.
Questioning the rationale behind sending an email to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) at 3.49 am on Wednesday, she alleged that there could be “a political provocation” behind it. “They sent a mail at 3.45 am in the morning? Is this the time? Is there any politics behind this? Our request to doctors is not to go into political provocation,” she said.
Bhattacharya further said the state government wanted to hold a clear and open discussion, but it appears that the doctors do not want that. “Setting conditions for talks is not a reflection of coming with an open mind to find solutions to problems which plague the doctors. The government is ready to listen to whatever they have to say. But they can’t set preconditions for such a meeting,” she said. “We all are law-abiding citizens, so we thought they will withdraw their protests. They were informed of all developments; they said so many things, but no one showed up.”
The doctors, who have continued their sit-in outside the Swasthya Bhavan for more than 24 hours now, responded to the state’s position. They said the interpretation of “imposing conditions” was entirely subjective and made by the government to which they did not agree.
“We did not impose any fresh conditions other than what we have been saying so far. We planned to go to that meeting with an open mind,” a protesting doctor said.
The first two emails were exchanged on Tuesday (September 10). The state health secretary invited a 10-member delegation for talks. The doctors, defying SC orders to return to work, rejected this invitation and said it was “insulting” as they have been demanding the resignation of the sender.
The doctors then set certain terms and conditions for the meeting and wrote to the CM around 3.50 am on Wednesday. Following this, at 3.20 pm, the chief secretary invited 12 to 15 doctors for a dialogue at Nabanna.
Once again, the doctors replied to this email insisting on meeting Banerjee in person and a larger delegation from their side, followed by the state government’s press conference.
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