News Brief
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Says 'Ready To Step Down' As Protesting Doctors' Skip Meeting: All You Need To Know
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she was "ready to step down" in the interest of the people, but hinted that the protests against the RG Kar rape and murder were aimed at toppling her government.
Banerjee assured the doctors that no action will be taken against them, and said that the government is always ready for dialogue.
The West Bengal CM claimed she waited for two hours at the state secretariat to meet the protesting doctors, but there was no response from them.
The doctors reached the state secretariat but refused to meet the Chief Minister, demanding that the meeting should be live-streamed.
"In the interest of the people, I am ready to step down. I do not want the post of the Chief Minister. I want justice for Tilottama. And I want common people to get medical treatment," the Chief Minister said at a press conference after waiting two hours for the junior doctors' delegation, NDTV reported.
She also pointed to the growing number of anti-government messages circulating on social media.
"Our government has been insulted. Common people do not know there is a political colour to it," Banerjee said.
The doctors' delegation had come till the gate of the secretariat for the meeting that was expected to begin at 5 pm.
But they refused to enter as the government had refused one of their demands - the live transmission of the proceedings.
The government, the Chief Minister had said, could not allow live transmission since the matter is being heard by the Supreme Court.
"We had full system to record the meeting for transparency and accurate documentation of the process. We were even ready to share the recording with the Supreme Court's nod," she said.
The lack of agreement on the live transmission dashed hopes of a resolution.
The protesting junior doctors have blamed the administration for its rigidity in not allowing live streaming of the meeting.
Banerjee said the doctors were only carrying out instructions.
"I know many in the delegation were interested in talks. But two of three people were giving instructions from outside. We have all that. We could see that because it was being recorded by the press, which were standing right behind... They were giving instructions - 'Do not negotiate, do not go to the meeting'," Banerjee said.
"I have tried my best to speak to the doctors. I apologise to the people Bengal, the people of the country and the world who are supporting them. Please support them. We also want justice -- for Tilottama, for the patients of Bengal who are suffering," the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister said that due to the doctors' strike, 27 patients have died due to lack of medical services at government hospitals in the last one month.
"An accident patient recently died at RG Kar hospital without treatment... What about his mother and family?" she asked.
