Bengal govt blames junior docs for logjam but sends fresh offer for talks | India News – Times of India

KOLKATA: The West Bengal govt on Sunday sent a fresh offer for negotiations to protesters despite blaming junior doctors for the abortive talks on Saturday night. Several senior officers of Bidhannagar City Police called up the protesting doctors and passed on the message that the govt was still willing to initiate a dialogue process and asked them if they were ready to reciprocate.
“We called up multiple junior doctors who have been part of the protest and told them that the govt was ready to initiate a dialogue process again. But there has been no response from their end yet. We have asked them to meet us and let us know if they want to engage in talks,” said a senior police officer.
The officer, however, didn’t specify whom they had called. TOI spoke to several junior doctors who said they have also heard about the police initiative but couldn’t ascertain who had got the call. Till late on Sunday, the junior doctors didn’t clarify if they were willing to meet the cops and fix a date for a meeting.
The demand for live-streaming and video recording of the meeting was an obstacle in the second attempt at a dialogue between the govt and junior doctors on Saturday, with the latter returning to the protest site from the doorstep of CM Mamata Banerjee‘s Kalighat residence.
“When we were all leaving around 9 pm and went to them to inform that we were leaving, they said they were willing to initiate talks without any demands. How long can a CM wait? She had been waiting for them for three days and even on Saturday she went to their protest site and then waited for three hours at her home requesting them to come inside. Is it possible to agree to their demands whenever they want? ” said minister Chandrima Bhattacharya.
“…What is this attitude that whenever they demand, the state will have to agree with them. I request to them with folded hands that the CM has taken many firm steps, including dismantling of patient welfare committees… what else can be done? They should return to work and have faith in the administration,” she added.