Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], October 8 (ANI): A 12-hour hunger strike is being held to demand better security in hospitals and to protest the August 9 incident, where a woman trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
Dr Abid Hasan, a junior doctor participating in the protest, spoke to ANI and said, “Look, it has been seven hours; our seniors are sitting on a hunger strike. Many senior doctors were on hunger strike yesterday and are still here today.”
“We are making a sincere effort to communicate with the authorities, and we remain hopeful. We want people to join us; we believe that problems can be solved through dialogue,” Hasan expressed, showing disappointment over the lack of communication from the government and criticising it for not engaging in discussions.
“The requirements for hospital beds and other essential resources are not being met,” he said, criticising the government for not fulfilling previous promises, particularly regarding the installation of CCTV cameras in hospitals.
Dr Hasan also highlighted ongoing threats to students and the lack of action against those responsible.
He urged authorities to address these concerns and emphasised the need for transparency regarding hospital resources.
“We want clarity on the availability of beds across various departments in the eleven medical colleges so that people don’t have to suffer unnecessarily. These are important issues concerning the common man, not just us,” Hasan told ANI.
“People are starting to voice their support against the police, gathering together, and standing with us. This sends a strong message, and I believe we are witnessing a social change. While the authorities may not be doing their part, humanity is evolving, and people are contributing to this change,” Hasan added.
On Monday, junior doctors and medical students protesting against the RG Kar incident announced a 12-hour hunger strike from 9 am to 9 pm. They also planned to hold a symbolic rally and called for supporters to join them.
Among the doctors’ demands are the removal of the health secretary and increased police protection in hospitals. Dr Soumodip Roy, one of the junior doctors involved in the strike, said, “Our college has been on hunger strike for nearly two days now. It has been 36 hours, and the strike will continue until the government meets our demands.”
“There will be a rally this evening from the college, and many other colleges and junior doctors will participate in a symbolic hunger strike at North Bengal Medical College,” he added.
When asked about the charge sheet filed by the CBI, Dr Soumodip said, “We will need to see what’s in the charge sheet, but we’ve always maintained that until the motive behind this incident is clear–how many people were involved and how much evidence has been tampered with–all of this must be made public. Until then, we cannot be satisfied. This fight began with a new vision from Abhaya, and it will continue until we receive another such idea from Abhaya.”
Dr Roy also criticised the state government’s response to their protest.
“The issue we want to raise is this: we are engaging in a democratic movement, and everyone has the right to protest peacefully and to hunger strike. The hunger strike is continuing peacefully, but the government has tried to prevent us by denying access to restrooms earlier and not letting us sit here. This is unjust, as a democratic movement should be allowed, and the government has a duty to protect it,” he added.
Dr Tauheed, another protester, outlined the schedule for the following day, stating, “Our doctors on hunger strike will continue tomorrow (October 8), from 9 AM to 9 PM. It’s not just for doctors; any common person who wishes to join can participate with us.”
In addition to the hunger strike, a rally has been organised by senior doctors and other supporters. “We will also hold a rally from the Medical College, organised by senior doctors, in which we will participate,” Dr Tauheed said.
West Bengal junior doctors had announced a hunger strike to protest against the rape and murder incident at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. On Friday, they issued the Bengal state government a 24-hour ultimatum to meet their demands, warning of an indefinite hunger strike if their concerns were not addressed. (ANI)
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