Standoff Over Rape-Murder Case at RG Kar Hospital: Junior Doctors Continue Protests Despite Government's Pleas

The West Bengal government's attempts to end a month-long 'cease work' by junior doctors over the alleged rape-murder of a woman medic at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital have hit a stalemate. Contributing factors include the doctors' demand for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's presence and a live broadcast during discussions, which the government rejected.

The West Bengal government on Wednesday rejected junior doctors' demands for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's presence and a live broadcast as preconditions for talks to resolve the month-long 'cease work' and standoff over the alleged rape-murder of a woman medic at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Amid the 33rd day of protests and a sit-in outside Swasthya Bhawan for the second day, Minister of State for Health Chandrima Bhattacharya said the government remains open to discussions but suggested that ''political forces'' might be influencing the protests.

This prompted a swift rebuttal from the medics, who dismissed the claims as baseless and asserted that the protests would continue until their demands were met.

(With inputs from agencies.)