Mamata Banerjee, Protesting Doctors Finally Meet To End Impasse

The protesting junior doctors of Kolkata, after two failed attempts at talks with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, have reached her Kalighat residence for a third. The state government has described this as a “fifth and final invitation for talks”.  Unlike the last two times, they have made it past the doorway and talks have started, sources said.
Escorted by a pilot police vehicle, around 30 doctors had arrived at Ms Banerjee’s home at 6.20 pm. The meeting, which was expected to begin  at 5 pm, finally started around 7 pm.

Two earlier meetings — the last one on Saturday — had fallen though as the two sides could not come to a consensus on whether the proceedings should be live transmitted or videographed, with the video handed to the doctors right after it ends.

In both cases, the doctors had reached the venue but left without sitting down at the proverbial table. On the first occasion, images of the Chief Minister sitting in an empty meeting hall of the state secretariat, waiting for the doctors’ delegation, had gone viral.

So did Saturday’s cellphone videos of her asking the doctors to come inside her Kalighat home and have a cup of tea at least even if they were unwilling to join discussions. The doctors had refused, saying they want justice.

This time, most of the conditions have been laid down in writing ahead of the meet, negating any chance of last-minute surprises.

The doctors have taken their own stenographers who would record the minutes and the document will be signed by everyone present. The government will also have a video recording.

The doctors have also stipulated that they give their response to whatever the government had to say after going back to the protest site and discussing it with the others. They have also made it clear that they will not give up on their five-point demand.

“We also want the issue to be resolved but not at the cost of any form of compromise on our five demands. We are going to the meeting to discuss all the issues with an open mind,” one of the protesters who is also participating in the meeting, was quoted as saying by news agency Press Trust of India.