Reciprocal visits end in stalemate

A day of twists and turns ended in stalemate again between the protesting doctors and the West Bengal Chief Minister as a delegation of the junior doctors left the Chief Minister's residence in the pouring rain late on Saturday evening.

- Aritra Singha

They claimed they had been turned away after having agreed to a change in a key condition that they would settle for the signed minutes of the meeting instead of videography which has been a sticking point. As they left the residence the doctors told the media that they were “crestfallen’ and said they would decide on the next steps after they reached the site of their protests for the last month and conferred with fellow agitators.

“We were told that even videography cannot take place from our side. Since the Chief Minister had requested us personally, we held a personal meeting amidst our delegation and to show respect to the Chief Minister we had agreed to hold the meeting with the minutes of the meeting duly signed by both the parties. While we were holding our personal meeting we were told that it is too late and the MoS health, Chief Secretary, Health Secretary left in front of us and the door was closed,” said the protesting doctors.

Earlier in the evening the delegation of 30 doctors stood steadfastly in the rain outside the residence of the Chief Minister refusing umbrellas and offers of tea. Mamata had contended that since the matter was subjudice videography would be organised by her and released to the doctors after getting a nod from the SC.