Stalemate in West Bengal: Doctors Continue Hunger Strike

A meeting between 12 doctors' associations and West Bengal's Chief Secretary ended inconclusively, with junior doctors continuing their hunger strike. The absence of Health Secretary NS Nigam was noted, and demands for resolution timelines went unanswered. The state urged doctors to end their hunger strike for health concerns.

Efforts to resolve the ongoing standoff between 12 doctors' associations and the West Bengal government concluded without progress on Monday. With no firm timeline for addressing their concerns, the meeting ended in a deadlock.

Criticism arose over Health Secretary NS Nigam's absence, allegedly attending a Supreme Court case in New Delhi. Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant faced calls to personally engage with the fasting junior doctors.

Despite a two-and-a-half-hour discussion, Chief Secretary Pant reported existing resolutions on seven of ten demands, citing administrative hurdles for the remaining issues. He urged the doctors' forum to advise their peers to end the hunger strike due to health implications.

(With inputs from agencies.)