‘Ready to Resign for People’s Sake’: CM Mamata Banerjee After Doctors Refuse to Meet in Absence of Live Telecast

Guwahati: The standoff between junior doctors and the West Bengal government escalated on Thursday when the protesters refused to participate in talks, demanding live-streaming of the proceedings. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in response, offered to resign “for the sake of the people” and expressed frustration over the situation.

Speaking at a press conference, Banerjee criticized the junior doctors for seeking her “chair” rather than justice. “They are here for the chair, not justice. For the sake of the people, I am ready to resign. I don’t want the chief ministership,” Banerjee stated. She apologized to the people of Bengal, who had hoped for a resolution to the ongoing crisis.

The tensions arose after a delegation of protesting junior doctors arrived at Nabanna (the state secretariat) but refused to join discussions unless their demand for live-streaming was met. Banerjee and her team waited for over two hours inside the building, but the doctors did not engage in talks.

Banerjee explained that while the government had no issue with recording the discussions, live-streaming was not possible due to the matter being sub-judice. “We have no problem in live-streaming, but the matter is sub-judice… We said all discussions will be documented and recorded. We kept three video cameras also. If the Supreme Court gives permission, we will share the recording with them also. When a case is sub-judice, live-streaming cannot be possible,” she said.

Earlier in the week, the Supreme Court had instructed the junior doctors to return to work by Tuesday evening and warned that the state government could take disciplinary action if they did not comply.

“The SC gave a deadline. It said that after the deadline, any step can be taken by the state government. We are not taking any step. To those who came to the gate of Nabanna but didn’t join talks, I appeal to them to return to work,” Banerjee urged.

The chief minister also expressed frustration over the refusal of some protesters to attend the meeting, attributing the obstruction to external instructions. “Some of the protesters wanted to attend the meeting. But three or four people who received instructions from outside ensured that nobody attended it… I have been insulted, my government has been insulted… We have tolerated a lot of canards and insults for the last 33 days,” Banerjee said.

The junior doctors have been on strike since August 9 following the tragic rape-and-murder of a colleague at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. After Banerjee’s press conference, the protesting doctors addressed the media outside Nabanna, reiterating their demand for live-streaming to ensure transparency.

Dr. Aniket Mahato, one of the protesters, expressed disappointment with Banerjee’s offer to resign. “We did not come here for her chair; we came with our five-point demand… What is wrong with live-streaming? Is the demand unjustified? If the SC can hold live hearings, why can’t the state government?” he said, adding that they were prepared to continue their protest.

The protesters also demanded that the CM be present at the talks and that their delegation be allowed to include 30 members. Chief Secretary Manoj Pant had invited them to a meeting at 5 pm on Thursday, offering to allow a larger delegation but refusing to permit live-streaming. The discussions could be recorded for transparency instead.

At the meeting, which included Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, the officials emphasized the importance of dialogue over live-streaming. “Dialogue is important. Only dialogue can solve the problem,” Pant said.