Junior doctors vows to continue ceasework after talks with Mamata Banerjee fails

Speaking to the media, one of the junior doctors said: "We are utterly disappointed with what the Chief Minister said. We wanted the talks to happen and will continue to hope for talks as we believe solutions can come only through dialogues."

"The CM said we are like her brothers and sisters but she also said there is politics behind our agitation. We simply demand justice for our sister who was brutally raped and murdered as well as want to clean the healthcare system that is marred by corruption. We also want our safety at work. Until these demands are met, we will continue our ceasework."

The Chief Minister earlier in the evening waited for two hours for the meeting which was scheduled to take place at 5 PM in Nabanna and then addressed the media as well as the people at large from Nabanna.

Mamata said she is ready to resign if needed as she does not hanker for power, but will not be able to accept the junior doctors' insistence on a sub-judice case or their refusal to treat patients who are dying. "I will forgive them still," she said, urging the doctors to join work while alleging that politics is at play in their adamance too.

She then went on to say: "They do not want justice, they want the chair."

The doctors are on a cease work demanding justice over the gruesome rape and murder of a junior doctor in the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last month, an incident that triggered an unprecedented protest in West Bengal.

The delegation of 32 to 34 doctors camped outside the state secretariat Nabanna refused to enter and meet with the Bengal Chief Minister till live streaming is allowed.

What Mamata Banerjee said after the junior doctors refused to go to the meeting room or enter Nabanna for not allowing live streaming:

• For two hours we waited. We asked them to come with an open mind. You are not tied, neither are we tied.
• Problems can be solved only if we talk. We waited two days for two hours earlier too. We forgave them by honouring their emotion. But the letter was clear (about live streaming).
• We had three video cameras arranged to record it fully. You have to understand that the case is sub-judice and we cannot live-stream the discussions. We could have recorded it and given it to them as well as to the court. We are honouring the Supreme Court direction.
• They came late but that is not an issue. I know the people of Bengal want justice and they have their emotions.
• We have no double standard. We were planning to discuss the safety of doctors and their development.
• When a matter is sub-judice we cannot do this (live streaming). The government is accountable too.
• We had clearly stated in our letter that we cannot do a live telecast and they could have raised any issue and briefed the press afterwards.
• I will not take any action still. As a senior I will forgive them. We asked for 15 people while they were 34 in numbers. But they did not come to the meeting room.
• From 15 in Left regime we have built 35 hospitals and there are 43 multi-speciality hospitals.
• I forgive them and I request them to join work and ensure there is no more death and people get treatment.
• I tried my best to sit with the junior doctors. I waited for three days, waiting, waiting and waiting. I waited three days with my highest officials for them.
• We want justice for Tilottama, we want justice for common people.
• Many of them wanted to join the meeting, but a few were against it (instigated over phone) from what I got from some media people around them. They do not want justice, they want the chair.