by Ashis Sinha
Kolkata: In a dramatic turn of events, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has offered to resign from her position as tensions continue to mount over the rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital. The Chief Minister’s offer to step down underscores her commitment to justice over her political role.
Banerjee expressed her willingness to resign, stating, “I am ready to step down if it helps bring justice to the victim. My focus is on justice, not on holding this office.” However, she has criticized the junior doctors for their stance, asserting that their refusal to treat patients and insistence on a sub-judice case reflects a political agenda rather than a genuine pursuit of justice. “I will forgive them still,” Banerjee added, accusing them of seeking power rather than resolution.
The situation took a contentious turn during a recent meeting between state officials and the junior doctors, which faced significant delays and disagreements. Chief Secretary Rajiv Kumar revealed that Banerjee had been waiting in the Nabanna meeting hall since 5 p.m., while the junior doctors arrived well past the scheduled time. Although 32 doctors attended the meeting instead of the requested 15, their demand for a live stream of the proceedings was refused by the government. The administration cited standard protocols that prohibit live broadcasting of official meetings.
The ongoing standoff has seen various state officials, including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and Director General of Police, engage in mediation efforts. Despite these attempts, the junior doctors remain resolute in their demand for live streaming, complicating efforts to resolve the crisis.
