Tue Sep 10 14:37:00 UTC 2024: ## Junior Doctors Reject Government’s Offer for Talks, Continue Protest
**Kolkata:** The ongoing standoff between junior doctors in West Bengal and the state government escalated today as the doctors refused to participate in a discussion proposed by the health secretary. The doctors, who have been protesting for over a month following the rape and murder of a colleague, are demanding the immediate resignation of several senior officials, including the city police chief.
The doctors, who marched to the health secretariat today, are camping out there demanding their demands be met. They rejected the government’s email inviting them for talks, calling it “insulting” as it came from the health secretary, one of the officials they are seeking the resignation of.
Earlier, the doctors had declined an offer to send a deputation for talks, stating that their demands should be addressed immediately. After 5 pm, they began an indefinite sit-down protest outside the secretariat, vowing to remain there until their demands are met.
The doctors’ protest follows a Supreme Court order for them to return to work by 5 pm today. In response, they escalated their protest, giving the government a 5 pm deadline to meet their demands. Their demands include the resignations of the city police chief, the state Health Secretary, Director of Health Education, and Director of Health Services.
While the Supreme Court has threatened to take action against the doctors if they do not return to work, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed her preference for settling the impasse through dialogue.
The state government has highlighted the need for the doctors to resume their duties, claiming that over 20 people have died due to lack of timely treatment during the strike. However, the doctors have refuted these allegations.
First Piper 