West Bengal

RG Kar impasse: Bengal govt, medics finalising minutes of meeting

The West Bengal government officials and the agitating junior doctors are presently finalising the draft minutes of the meeting to address the RG Kar hospital impasse on Monday night, according to sources. After four unsuccessful bids to initiate a dialogue to resolve the more than a month-long deadlock, a delegation of 35 agitating junior doctors arrived at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat residence for the crucial talks at 6.20 pm. The meeting, which was originally scheduled at 5 pm, began around 6:50 pm.

Meeting between agitating junior doctors, WB govt begins at Mamata's home

The first round of talks between the West Bengal government and the agitating junior doctors began at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence in Kalighat on Monday evening to address the RG Kar impasse. After four unsuccessful bids to initiate a dialogue to resolve the deadlock, a delegation of agitating junior doctors arrived at Banerjee's residence for the crucial talks. The previous attempts to resolve the issue got stuck due to the state government's rejection of the doctors' demand for live-streaming and video recording of the meeting. The agitating medics later agreed to a compromise, now only asking to record the minutes of the meeting and receive a signed copy. The state government accepted this condition, with Chief Secretary Manoj Pant saying both parties will sign the minutes of the meeting and share copies for clarity. Meanwhile, the doctors continued their sit-in outside Swasthya Bhawan, the headquarters of the Health department, for the eight day and the 'cease wo

Mamata invites junior doctors for negotiation meeting 'fifth & final' time

The latest invite by West Bengal's chief secretary follows two previous failed attempts at negotiation between Mamata Banerjee and doctors, held at Nabanna (the state secretariat) and CM's residence

Bengal govt again invites junior docs for meeting at CM's residence today

The West Bengal government on Monday "for the fifth and the final time" invited the protesting junior doctors for talks to end the RG Kar impasse, two days after the dialogue failed to take off over disagreement on live-streaming of the meeting. In an email to the protesting junior doctors, Chief secretary Manoj Pant asked them to reach Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence at Kalighat at 5 pm on Monday for the talks. "This is the fifth and the final time we are reaching out to you for a meeting between the honourable CM and the delegates. In line with our discussion the day before (Saturday), we are once again inviting you for the meeting with the CM at her Kalighat residence for discussions with an open mind," he wrote. Pant hoped "Good sense will prevail" as mutually agreed on Saturday that there will be no live-streaming or videography of the meeting given the matter is sub-judice before the Supreme Court. "Instead, the minutes of the meeting will be recorded and signed by

RG Kar ex-principal gave 'deceptive' answers during polygraph: CBI

R G Kar Medical College's former principal Sandip Ghosh was found to be "deceptive" while answering important questions on the rape and murder of a trainee woman postgraduate doctor during his polygraph test and layered voice analysis, officials said. The CBI, probing the case, arrested Ghosh on September 2 in connection with financial irregularities at the hospital. The federal probe agency later added charges of evidence tampering against him. During the investigation, Ghosh was subjected to layered voice analysis and polygraph test. According to a report from Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), New Delhi, his version has been found to be "deceptive on certain important issues" relating to this case, officials in the know of the developments said. Information revealed during the polygraph test may not be used as evidence during the trial but the agency may gather corroborative evidence which could be used in court, they said. A polygraph test can help in assessing ...

RG Kar issue: Agitating junior doctors continue cease work, demand justice

Agitating junior doctors in West Bengal on Monday continued with their cease work, stating that they wouldremain steadfast in their resolve to pursue justice for the medic raped and murdered at the Kar hospital. The doctors continued their sit-in outside Swasthya Bhawan, the headquarters of the Health department, for the eight day and the cease work for the 36th day and vowed to continue it till their demands - the removal of Kolkata Police Commissioner and senior state health officials are met. "We will continue our cease work till our demands are met. The state government is not serious about resolving the crisis," an agitating junior medic said.. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Saturday made a surprise visit to the site where the doctors were protesting and assured them that their demands would be addressed, but the proposed meeting fell through, with the protesters claiming that they were asked to leave "unceremoniously" after waiting for three hours at the gates of the CM

Bengal's healthcare crisis reveals deeper issues in the political system

It reveals more than dysfunction; it unveils a clash of ideologies

Bengal to streamline e-rickshaw registration, discontinue illegal vehicles

The West Bengal transport department has decided to streamline the registration of e-rickshaws and phase out unregistered and illegally manufactured vehicles. The decision was taken in view of representations from various bodies about the plying of lakhs of unregistered e-rickshaws built in workshops without following any standard manufacturing procedures or safety guidelines. A senior transport department official said that district magistrates have been asked to identify battery-operated unregistered e-rickshaws built clandestinely at local garages and phase them out in a time-bound manner. Transport Secretary Saumitra Mohan, in a notice issued on September 12, said, "Representations have been received from different stakeholders in connection with non-compliance of guidelines for registration of e-rickshaws, duly manufactured by different companies including original equipment manufacturers, after obtaining the approval from the competent authority." As per the Central Motor ...

Ragpicker injured in blast happened near plastic bag in central Kolkata

A ragpicker was injured in a blast that took place in central Kolkata on Saturday, a police officer said. The explosion occurred when he was "near a plastic bag" at the crossing of Blochmann Street and SN Banerjee Road. "The injured person was identified as 58-year-old Bapi Das, who lives on a footpath beside S N Banerjee Road. He is a ragpicker," the officer said. The injured person suffered injuries in his right wrist and is being treated at the Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital. "The area was cordoned off and a bomb disposal squad reached the place. They checked the bag and the vicinity," he said.

WB people offer food to medics, thousands treated free at 'Abhaya' clinic

Forty-year-old Arpan Maity, a practising physician and an alumnus of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, was busy collecting food items, clothes, raincoats, umbrellas and other materials at a makeshift counter near the state health department headquarters where thousands of medics have been staging a sit-in for the last five days. From cots, bed sheets and raincoats to large umbrellas and food packets, the agitators are flooded with items from common people, Maity told PTI at the agitation site. "Till 2 pm on Saturday, 3,000 food packets have been served for free to people, not only to the protestors but also to local hawkers, rickshaw-pullers, autorickshaw drivers, journalists and other those who have come to the site to express solidarity with the movement," he said. Prajakta Sikdar, another volunteer who is dividing her time between raising slogans and manning one of the four counters at the protest site, said that till 1.30 pm on Saturday, she had distributed around 600 ...

Mamata Banerjee makes surprise visit to protest site of junior doctors

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday made a surprise visit to the site where the junior doctors were protesting, and assured them that she would look into their demands and take action if anyone was found guilty. Addressing the protesting doctors amid chants of 'we want justice' outside the Swasthya Bhawan in Salt Lake, Banerjee said she was spending sleepless nights as the medics were agitating on the road amid rains. "I came to meet you as your 'didi' not as the chief minister," she said. "I assure you that I will study your demands and take action if someone is found guilty," she added, urging the protesting doctors to return to work. She also announced that patient welfare committees of all state-run hospitals were dissolved with immediate effect. "This is my last attempt to resolve the crisis," Banerjee said. After the chief minister left the site, the agitating doctors said they were not ready to compromise on their demands till discussions were held. The

IMD issues 'red' alert for West Bengal and Odisha, 'orange' alert for Delhi

IMD update: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall in West Bengal, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh; Delhi witnesses record AQI of 52

RG Kar incident: Protesting doctors write to Prez, PM seeking intervention

Agitating junior doctors in West Bengal have written to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting their intervention in the RG Kar hospital impasse. Copies of the four-page letter written by the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front were also sent to Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar and Union Health Minister JP Nadda. A post-graduate trainee was raped and murdered in state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. Junior doctors have been on 'cease work' since then. "We humbly place the issues before your esteemed excellency, as the head of state, so that our unfortunate colleague who has been the victim of the most despicable crime shall receive justice, and so that we, the healthcare professionals under the West Bengal Health department, may be able to discharge our duties to the public without fear and apprehension. "Your intervention in these trying times will act as a beacon of light to us all, showing us the way ahead out of the darkness that

Govt to pay Rs 2 lakh to families of 29 who died due to 'ceasework': Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced that the state government would pay a compensation of Rs two lakh to the families of each of the 29 people who died allegedly after not getting treatment due to the ongoing 'cease work' of agitating junior doctors. "It is sad and unfortunate that we have lost 29 precious lives due to disruption in health services because of long-drawn cease work by junior doctors," Banerjee posted on X. "In order to extend a helping hand to the bereaved families, state government announces a token financial relief of Rs 2 lakh to family members of each deceased person," she added. The junior doctors have been on 'cease work' since August 9 when the body of an on-duty postgraduate trainee was found in state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. She was allegedly raped and murdered.

Kolkata protest: TMC MP labels protesting medics as 'unfit to be doctors'

The state's medical community has been on strike since August 9, seeking justice for a junior doctor who was raped and murdered last month at Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital

OBC list row: SC may advance hearing on WB's plea against HC verdict

The Supreme Court on Friday said it would consider advancing date of hearing on a plea of the West Bengal government against a Calcutta High Court verdict striking down the OBC status of several castes, mostly Muslim groups, for granting reservation to them in public sector jobs and state-run educational institutions. The top court is scheduled to hear the appeal on September 30 and the litigants, including the Trinamool Congress-led state government, have sought advancing of the date of hearing. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was urged by senior advocate N K Kaul that 77 communities have been "de-reserved" and due to the impugned judgement, the admission process in relation to them are getting affected. "I will pass an order (on advancing the date of hearing) in the afternoon. Please circulate an e-mail," the CJI told Kaul. The top court had earlier on August 5 asked the state government to provide quantifiable data on ..

Junior doctors continue protests against RG Kar rape-murder incident

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged the protesting doctors to return to work, adding that she has no greed for her CM post

Will not share any public platform with Mamata over RG Kar: Bengal Guv

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Thursday said he will not share any public platform with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in view of people's outcry over the RG Kar hospital impasse. In a video message, Bose also said he will also socially boycott the chief minister. "I will not be sharing any public platform with the chief minister. I will take proactive steps against her for violating Constitutional provisions. My role as the Governor will be confined to the Constitutional obligations," Bose said. "I stand committed to the people of Bengal. I reiterated my commitment to the parents of the victim of RG Kar and also to those who are demonstrating for justice. In my assessment, the government has failed in its duties," he added.

Jr doctors in WB continue 'cease work', sit-in over medic's rape-murder

Junior doctors on Thursday continued their sit-in outside the West Bengal Health Department's office as well as their 'cease work' over the alleged rape and murder of a young medic at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The agitating doctors have been demonstrating outside Swathya Bhavan', the state health department headquarters, for over 40 hours. The government had Wednesday rejected their demands for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's presence and a live broadcast as preconditions for talks to resolve the impasse. A large number of police personnel have been deployed in and around Swathya Bhavan' at Salt Lake, and traffic movement was regulated. "We will continue our agitation and cease work'. But, we did not want to continue this. The state government is not open to holding any meeting with us. And, we want to make it clear that there is no politics behind our stir," one of the protesting doctors told PTI. Meanwhile, healthcare services at state-run hospitals remained crippled

RG Kar hospital incident: Doctors seek transparent talks with state govt

Dr Arnab Mukhopadhya on Thursday said we have all the discussion channels open, but our prerequisite conditions aren't unfair