Members of Bengal Junior Doctors' Front and others take part in a mega rally on 'Mahalaya' to demand justice for the alleged sexual assault and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Kolkata, Wednesday, Oct 2, 2024.
Credit: PTI Photo
Kolkata: Thousands of junior doctors, joined by people from all walks of life, took out a protest march here on Wednesday demanding justice for a medic who was raped and murdered at state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in August, vowing to continue their protest till the government acted decisively.
The protest march, organised by the Bengal Junior Doctors' Front, began at College Street and ended in Esplanade area, marking a fresh escalation of the doctors' ongoing agitation for improved safety measures for healthcare workers.
"We are not in a 'Puja' or 'Utsav' mood, and we will continue protesting on the streets till our sister gets justice. We have chosen this day of Mahalaya to send out this message," said one of the protesters, identifying herself as a colleague of the deceased.
Mahalaya marks the beginning of Devi Paksha in the Hindu calendar, heralding the start of Durga Puja celebrations, when devotees invoke Goddess Durga to descend to Earth.
Carrying placards, and national flags, the protesters raised slogans, asserting they would not rest until justice was served.
The march comes amid doctors' 'cease-work' stir in hospitals in protest against the rape and murder of their colleague.
As the rally concluded at Esplanade, leaders of the Bengal Junior Doctors' Front vowed to continue their agitation until the government took definitive action.
"We will not give up. This is about our safety, our dignity, and justice for Abhaya. The government cannot expect us to remain silent while they do nothing," said an agitating junior doctor, while addressing the crowd.
The rally, one of the largest demonstrations in recent weeks, attracted a diverse mix of participants, including doctors, nurses, medical students, and concerned citizens.
The protesters later gathered on the banks of Ganga, lighting 1,000 diyas as a symbolic act in their fight for justice.
Despite the festive air in the city as people prepared for the upcoming Durga Puja, protesters maintained that the movement for justice overshadowed celebrations.
"Today is the 52nd day of our protest, and we are still facing attacks. There is no positive response from the state government toward meeting our safety and security demands," said Aniket Mahato, one of the agitating junior doctors, addressing the crowd at Esplanade.
The protesters, mostly junior doctors, have been on a 'cease work' since Tuesday, accusing the West Bengal government of failing to fulfil promises made in mid-September.
Although the doctors had partially resumed services after 42 days of the strike, they went back to 'cease-work' on Tuesday, alleging that key demands such as enhanced safety measures for medical staff were not implemented.
Among the key demands raised by the Bengal Junior Doctors' Front are the installation of CCTV cameras on hospital premises, round-the-clock security for healthcare workers, and stricter protocols to prevent similar incidents of violence against medical professionals.
The culture of fear and intimidation within state-run hospitals has also been a focal point of the protests, with the doctors alleging that the administration has failed to provide a safe working environment.
"We joined our profession to serve the people, but how can we do so when we constantly live in fear? We don't feel safe in the very places where we are supposed to save lives," said another junior doctor.
While the West Bengal government had initially promised to address many of the doctors' concerns following the first phase of protests, the agitating doctors claimed there has been little follow-up action.
"The promises made were hollow. We are being asked to return to work without any concrete measures being put in place to ensure our safety," Mahato said.
Attempts by the government to broker peace with the doctors have so far failed, with state officials urging the medics to return to work and suggesting that police investigations into the alleged murder of the junior doctor are ongoing.
The junior doctors' protest has garnered widespread support from Kolkata's general public, with many residents expressing solidarity with the movement.
"This is not just about doctors. This is about justice, about safety in our institutions, and about holding those in power accountable," said Swati Mukherjee, a homemaker who joined the rally along with her family.
With no clear resolution in sight, and tensions between the junior doctors and the state government intensifying, the protest movement looks set to continue in the coming weeks, even as Kolkata prepares for its biggest festival of the year.
Meanwhile, a statue christened 'Abhaya' was unveiled on RG Kar Hospital premises, which the agitating doctors claimed is a symbol of the ghastly act that occurred on August 9 and also of the ongoing protests demanding justice.
"This statue is not of the victim, but a symbol of pain, torture she went through and the ongoing protests," a junior doctor of the hospital told reporters.