Sat Sep 14 16:57:41 UTC 2024: ## West Bengal Doctor Protests: Talks with Mamata Banerjee Collapse, Deadlock Continues

**KOLKATA:** The ongoing standoff between junior doctors in West Bengal and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took a dramatic turn on Saturday, with a proposed meeting at her residence falling through. The doctors, who had arrived for talks, demanded live-streaming of the discussion, a request the CM denied citing legal constraints.

Banerjee, who had earlier made a surprise visit to the protest site and urged the doctors to return to work, expressed disappointment at the impasse. She appealed to the doctors to attend the meeting, stating she would provide them with a copy of the recording after obtaining Supreme Court permission. “I have been waiting, why are you insulting me like this?”, she questioned, referring to the doctors’ reluctance to meet without live-streaming.

The doctors initially agreed to drop their live-streaming demand after being assured they would receive minutes of the meeting, but were ultimately asked to leave. They expressed dismay, stating the government seemed uninterested in finding a solution to the ongoing crisis.

The standoff began over a month ago, following the gruesome rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. The doctors’ demands include improved security at state-run hospitals and the removal of top officials involved in the case.

The CM’s visit to the protest site on Saturday had initially raised hopes for a breakthrough. She expressed sympathy for the doctors’ plight, acknowledging their struggles and promising to investigate the allegations. However, the breakdown in talks has reignited tensions and left the future of the protests uncertain.

The BJP has criticized Banerjee’s visit as a “photo-op” and accused her of trying to sow discord among the medical community. The impasse continues, raising concerns about the future of healthcare services in the state and the broader issue of safety for medical professionals.

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