Bengal Junior doctors call off strike partially | CineChitram

Dats after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gave in to their demand to shunt out senior police and health officials, protesting junior doctors on Thursday announcing a “partial” lifting of their “cease-work”, saying they would resume essential and emergency services in hospitals from Saturday, but would not work in the Out Patient Department (OPD).

They said they would also end their sit-in protest outside Swasthya Bhawan, the state health department headquarters, after marching to the CBI office on Friday. The protesters, however, added that their “fight for justice” would continue.

“It has been decided that given the flood situation in West Bengal and the state government agreeing to certain demands of ours, we will be rejoining emergency and essential services partially from Saturday. We are withdrawing our cease work partially,” an agitating doctor said after their general body meeting.

“We will withdraw our sit-in outside Swasthya Bhawan on Friday after the march to the CBI office. We will wait for a week for implementation of all the promises made by the West Bengal government and if unfulfilled, we will resume ‘cease work’,” the doctors said.

Saying that while they had achieved “initial victory” as “majority” of their demands had been met, the junior doctors, in a statement, said their “demand for justice” had “not been fully met” yet, and their movement would continue. However, they warned that they will resume the strike if the government’s promises are not fulfilled within a week.

In response to the protests, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee transferred key officials, including Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, and introduced new safety measures in hospitals. While the government has issued directives on hospital safety, no specific timeline for implementation was provided, leaving doctors wary.

Despite partial resumption of services, the doctors emphasized that their agitation is not over. They will monitor the administration’s actions closely and could return to protest if necessary. They also announced plans to launch ‘Abhaya Clinics’ in flood-affected areas of West Bengal to assist those in need during the ongoing disaster.

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