Doctors Demand Justice and Safety Amidst Nationwide Protests

Thousands of doctors from major hospitals staged a protest at Nirman Bhawan, demanding safety for medics and justice for a trainee doctor who was raped and murdered. The Federation of Resident Doctors Association and other medical bodies held a candle march, calling for stricter laws and security measures.

Slogans like ''We want justice'' echoed through the air as thousands of doctors from major hospitals staged a sit-in protest outside the Nirman Bhawan on Friday, demanding safety for medics and justice for the trainee doctor who was raped and brutally murdered in Kolkata.

The demonstration, which began at 2 pm, continued till 9 pm.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), along with the Delhi Medical Association and Delhi Medical Council, held a candle march in the evening from the Safdarjung Hospital to India Gate under the banner ''FORDA Demands Justice'' with hashtags #JusticeForAbhaya and #BengalHorror.

However, the police stopped them near the INA Flyover and did not allow them to proceed further, after which the doctors returned to the Safdarjung Hospital.

General secretary of FORDA Sarvesh Pandey said, ''We organised the candle march, but since the police stopped us and did not allow us to proceed, we returned to the Safdarjung Hospital. We, along with the RDA members, held a meeting and decided that the strike will continue on Saturday as well.'' Resident doctors have halted the OPD, OT, and wards in most major hospitals, marking the fifth day of their strike. They have also announced the strike will continue on Saturday.

From the morning, the doctors began their protest within their hospital premises and in the afternoon, nearly 1,000 to 1,500 doctors gathered outside the Nirman Bhawan to protest.

The Maulana Azad Road was blocked as a large number of doctors protested there, with some wearing black bands on their sleeves.

Hundreds were seen holding posters and Mansi, a female doctor from Lady Hardinge Medical College, held one that read, ''Where can we go just to be safe?'' ''She was at her workplace when she was raped and murdered. We are not safe on the road, and some are not safe even in their homes,'' Mansi said.

Later in the afternoon, the protesters sat on the road, completely blocking it, leading to diversion of traffic.

The Nirman Bhawan, located near Parliament in Lutyens' Delhi, houses the Ministry of Health besides other departments.

Resident doctors stood on the roadside outside the Nirman Bhawan, with a heavy presence of policemen who had barricaded both sides of the road.

Holding posters and banners, the doctors chanted slogans like 'We want justice', 'No safety, no duty' and 'Awaz do, hum ek hain' to express their anger and concerns about their safety.

Doctor Dhruv Chauhan, a health activist and National Council member of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) - Junior Doctors Network, told PTI, ''The incident doesn't only belong to the medical fraternity but to the entire humanity that is shaken to the core seeing the brutality which was done to her, and therefore, the entire nation should come out demanding justice for her.

''Also, the fact that doctors are the most vulnerable to crime due to sensitive nature of our work... it is very necessary to have strict laws like the central protection Act, which we are fighting for along with surveillance of every hospital.'' He added that doctors have been protesting for five days and will continue to do so for a safe working environment and justice for the victim.

Rahul, a resident doctor, expressed the collective grief and anger, saying, ''It's been a week since this horrific incident occurred, and we've been protesting for five days. It's unimaginable that a doctor, someone dedicated to saving lives, was brutally raped and murdered. Our demands for justice and protective measures are not unreasonable. They are essential.'' Six members of the doctors' delegation went inside the Nirman Bhawan to meet government officials.

The decision to hold the protest was made on the eve of Independence Day following a joint meeting of the representatives from multiple resident doctors' associations (RDAs), including those from AIIMS, SIH, MAMC, RML, LHMC, UCMS and DDU.

The associations collectively agreed to implement a common unified action plan aimed at pushing for a central protection Act, which they believe is crucial for safeguarding the interests and lives of healthcare workers across the nation.

The RDAs emphasised this protest is not just a demand for justice but a call for action to prevent further violence and ensure the safety of those on the frontline of healthcare.

In connection with the rape and murder of the doctor in Kolkata, Delhi University's Krantikari Yuva Sangathan, a student body representing the working class and the marginalised sections, also staged a protest at the Banga Bhawan, Mandi House, in Central Delhi, demanding action against the culprits.

Additionally, the Congress' student wing NSUI carried out a candle march seeking justice for the victim.

(With inputs from agencies.)