Union Minister for Health, Dr Harshvarshan has come out to appeal to Mamata Banerjee, the West Bengal Chief Minister, not to turn the issue of doctors going on strike following violence being unleashed on them as a matter of prestige.
Union Health Minister ,Dr Harsh Vardhan: I appeal to West Bengal CM to not make this an issue of prestige. She gave the doctors an ultimatum, as a result they got angry and went on strike. Today, I will write to Mamata Banerjee ji and will also try to speak to her on this issue. https://t.co/I3pad4s5Zr
— ANI (@ANI) June 14, 2019
He said that Mamata Banerjee gave the doctors and ultimatum, and hence, they got agitated and went on strike. He also said that he will write to Mamata Banerjee today and try to speak to her on the issue.
Furhter, Dr Harshvardhan appealed to the doctors who have not gone on nationwide strike to hold symbolic protests only & continue to carry out their duties. He said that he assures the doctors that the government is committed towards their safety.
Doctors accross the country have protested against the ongoing violence against West Bengal doctors that has seemed to gone unabated and unchecked. The ones registering their protest included Mamata Banerjee’s own nephew and the mayor’s daughter.
The India Medical Association has declared “All India Protest Day” on Friday against the incident and expressed solidarity with the striking doctors.
Junior doctors have been agitating since Tuesday as their colleagues are being attacked in the state. The doctors had also decided to reject the Chief Minister’ ultimatum and continue their strike until their demands are met.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had ordered the doctors to resume work within 4 hours or face action. Reportedly, even the supporters of the TMC are unhappy about the incident and are protesting against Mamata Banerjee for violencce against the doctors.
It began as a small protest by a group of junior doctors at the state-run SSKM Hospital after doctors and interns at the NRS Hospital were brutally attacked by a mob on the premises of the hospital after a patient named Mohammed Sayeed reportedly died of natural causes. As the protest began attacks against doctors further escalated and mobs attackedstudents and interns at the Burdwan Medical College and Hospital as well.
