Junior Doctors' Agitation: Second Round of Talks Over RG Kar Issue

Junior doctors in West Bengal gathered at the state secretariat on Wednesday evening for a second round of talks with the government to address their safety and security concerns in hospitals following the RG Kar rape-murder incident. Despite some administrative measures, doctors continue their protests, deeming these steps as 'partial victory'.

A group of agitating junior doctors on Wednesday evening reached the West Bengal state secretariat Nabanna to hold the second round of talks with the government to resolve the impasse arising from the RG Kar issue.

Escorted by a pilot police vehicle, the delegation of around 30 medics arrived at the secretariat around 7.15 pm to meet Chief Secretary Manoj Pant.

''We want the issue of safety and security in hospitals to be addressed. The chief minister had announced the formation of a task force, but there is no proper clarity on it. We want the state government to accept our legitimate demands,'' an agitating doctor said before leaving for the meeting venue.

The West Bengal government invited the junior doctors agitating over the RG Kar rape-murder incident for a meeting at the state secretariat, responding to their request for a fresh round of talks. This meeting is the second round within 48 hours, the first of which was held in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday.

Despite the state appointing Manoj Kumar Verma as the new Kolkata Police chief and removing two senior health department officials, the junior doctors stated they will continue their sit-in and not join duty. A statement following their general body meeting branded the administrative measures as 'only partial victory' of their movement. The doctors demanded the removal of state Health Secretary N S Nigam, claiming they were assured of action by Banerjee during the talks on Monday.

(With inputs from agencies.)