Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accuses Mamata Banerjee of systemic failure, doctors continue protest

New Delhi [India], August 16 : Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday tore into the Mamata Banerjee government alleging a complete failure in the system. The Union Minister's comments come after the Chief Minister accused the "Left and Ram" of staging a conspiracy around the rape and murder of a junior doctor at the RG Kar Medical College.
In a post on X, the Union Minister said, "There has been a complete systemic failure in West Bengal time and again. But the blame lies on 'Bam and Ram'. Absolutely disgusting, shameful and reprehensible statement from Mamata Didi. The day is not far when Mamata Didi will even blame aliens and extraterrestrials for her misrule".
"With appeasement politics as her fulcrum of politics, Mamata Didi still has to take refuge in Lord Ram to cover her abysmal failures. Justice needs to be delivered and perpetrators need to be dealt with the harshest punishment. There can be no room for politics on the horrific rape and murder of the junior doctor. Mamata Didi's attempt to cover up, stifle dissent and shield perpetrators raises serious questions. Expecting the safety of women, speedy trial, justice and impartiality from her is out of the question," he further stated.
Meanwhile, in a major step to protect doctors from violent attacks, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a notification stating, "In the event of any violence against any healthcare worker while on duty, the head of the institution shall be responsible for filing an institutional FIR within a maximum of six hours of the incident."
Four doctors of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital were summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Kolkata today amid the ongoing protest over the rape-murder of a trainee doctor. According to the sources, the CBI will interrogate these PGT (PG trainees) regarding what happened the night of the incident.
Meanwhile, protests continue across the country with senior as well as resident doctors demanding the Central Protection Act (CPA) be implemented in the aftermath of the rape and murder of the junior doctor in Kolkata.
Lady Hardinge Medical College and Hospital and RML Hospital in the national capital witnessed protests against the rape and murder of a woman resident doctor in Kolkata. Doctors raised the slogan of "We want justice" while protesting against the rape and murder incident.
Dr Akash from RML Hospital appealed to the doctors and common people to reach Nirman Bhawan in large numbers to peacefully put forward their issues in front of the government and seek justice for the alleged rape and murder victim in Kolkata.
"We want to tell our friends protesting in Bengal that they are not alone in this fight, all doctors across the country stand in solidarity with them... We demand a Central Protection Act from the government. Our protest will continue till we do not get assurance from the government that concrete steps will be taken," he said.
In Assam, junior doctors of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital protested against the rape-murder incident at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata.
Dr Anupam Tamuli, General Secretary of Junior Doctors Association, GMCH said, "We want justice as soon as possible, we are also demanding a Central Protection Act for our healthcare workers. For that, we are protesting. We have resumed the halting of non-emergency services without affecting the emergency services."
In Andhra Pradesh, junior doctors and medical students at AIIMS Mangalagiri staged a protest and performed a street play to protest against the rape and murder.
Senior resident Doctor at AIIMS Mangalagiri, Dr Sreeja said, "On the eve of Independence Day, the protesting doctors at RG Kar faced mob attacks and also police attacks. The hospital was vandalised and evidence was erased. In condemnation of this, we are protesting here. It's not just a crime against doctors. It's a crime against women and humanity. We request the CBI to conduct a transparent investigation. The victim's family should receive adequate compensation. We also demand a Central Protection Act for all healthcare workers."
Doctors of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Tamil Nadu's Trichy have been protesting wearing black badges as a mark of protest.
"To condemn the death of the female doctor at RG Kar Medical Hospital and College and to further ensure the safety of the medical personnel, we are holding this protest. We request the central government to conduct an enquiry properly and punish the criminals as soon as possible. The medical professionals must be provided with two-tier security this will also encourage more students to opt for medicines," said Dr Aruleeswaran, Trichy Doctors Association.
On August 9, a junior doctor was found dead inside the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. Her family had alleged that she had been raped and murdered. The incident sparked widespread outrage and led to protests within and beyond the medical community.