Mamata Banerjee Rejects Doctors' Request for Live-Streaming, Decries 'Insult'

On Saturday, West bengal Chief minister Mamata Banerjee addressed a group of protesting doctors who had arrived at her residence seeking a meeting. Banerjee urged the doctors to join the discussion, noting that due to ongoing court proceedings, live-streaming of the meeting was not permitted. She offered to video-record the session and provide a copy only after receiving supreme court approval.

Banerjee expressed frustration, saying, “I am waiting for you to come inside and attend the meeting. Why are you insulting me like this? Earlier, I waited on three occasions, but you did not show up.”

The chief minister, accompanied by DGP rajeev Kumar and Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, was reportedly waiting at her residence for the junior doctors. However, the doctors at the CM’s residence claimed they were waiting for Banerjee to initiate the meeting.

The junior doctors had requested live-streaming or video recording of the meeting for transparency. The Chief Secretary informed them that live-streaming was not feasible at the CM’s residence. They proposed allowing their own videographer to record the meeting but were told by the CM’s security that recordings were being made for security reasons only. The doctors wanted live-streaming to ensure transparency and allow other protesting junior doctors to be informed of the discussions.

Banerjee scheduled this meeting to address issues related to the ongoing impasse at RG Kar Hospital. Only 15 members of the West bengal junior Doctors’ Front were permitted to attend.

Earlier, the junior doctors expressed their willingness to discuss their demands with proper representation and transparency. They appreciated Banerjee’s visit to their protest site as a “goodwill gesture” and hoped it would lead to a resolution of their five-point demands, which have been the focus of their peaceful protests for over a month.

In her surprise visit to the protest site earlier, Banerjee assured the doctors that she would review their demands and take action if necessary. She described her visit as a final effort to resolve the situation, emphasizing her concern for the doctors’ conditions amid the ongoing demonstrations.




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