Bangla Hunt/ Pallab Ghosh
Late but made her point loud and clear. West Bengal chief minister and state health minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday gave an ultimatum to striking doctors by saying either return to the duty or vacate the hostels within four-hours. However, the striking doctors largely being motivated by a political party has defied the orders and said that strike will continue unless their demand on security are met.
Mamata Banerjee, had visited the state-run SSKM hospital in the afternoon and took stock of the situation that has become grave after junior doctors had resorted to disruption of medical services since past three days in protest against the patient party creating ruckus and hitting an intern with a slab at the NRS Medical College and Hospital.
Banerjee said, “We don’t support the incident took place in NRS Hospital, we have condemned. I sent my colleague, Chandrima Bhattacharjee, Minister-of-State, Health and Family Welfare to visit the injured doctor and talk to a section of the agitating junior doctors. Please think about critical patients especially Cancer patients, kidney patients, accident victims, even children coming from distant places are suffering for not getting treatment. I sent Commissioner of Police, Kolkata to talk to the junior doctors. We are taking actions against the accused. Please return to your duty.”
Defying her order to return to duty by 2 PM, a team of doctors met Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi at Raj Bhavan to inform that chief minister’s reaction to their protest was unexpected.
Well, nobody has supported the ruckus and brutal attacks on doctors but at the same time the way doctors have also crossed all limits as the common man look upto them as God. The helpless patients have no other alternative to wait for the ongoing strike to end as then they will be able to get required treatment. The striking doctors who love to flaunt placards around their neck reading “Save The Saviours” must realise that they have a bigger responsibility towards their patients as these helpless people have no option but to die if the strike continues for long.
Finally, the social media has been abuzz with netizens posting “I Am With The Striking Doctors”. The sentiments are high and such posts are well taken but will these same people maintain similar stand if their family members, relatives or friends lay unattended due to strike. Will they continue to compliment the striking doctors if their beloveds (God forbid) has to face such grave situation.
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