RG Kar protest: WBJDF ends hunger strike but vows to continue agitation

Kolkata: The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF), leading the protest against the rape and murder of a fellow doctor from R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, announced on Monday night that they will end their hunger strike, which began on October 5.

Despite ending the hunger strike, WBJDF representatives stressed that they will continue to protest and push for justice. A decision to withdraw the hunger strike was made after the victim's parents visited the protest site at Esplanade in central Kolkata on Monday evening.

Debasish Halder, a key member of the junior doctors’ group, told the media that while they are stopping the hunger strike, they remain committed to their cause. “We have withdrawn the hunger strike following the request of the victim’s parents and pleas from acclaimed personalities from the civil society. We have also decided to withdraw from our scheduled programme of a total strike from Tuesday. But we are not withdrawing from the path of agitation. On October 26, we will be organising a mass convention at R.G Kar,” Halder said.

However, he expressed disappointment with the “body language” of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the recent meeting with the protesting doctors. “The body language of the Chief Minister was not positive. We were not even allowed to enter the meeting sporting our ‘We want justice’ badge. The principal of different medical colleges & hospitals there were not allowed to speak at the meeting,” Halder said.

Parichay Panda, another junior doctor involved in the hunger strike, emphasised that ending the hunger strike does not mean they are giving up on their demands for justice. “Our voices for demand for justice will be stronger in the coming days. So the administration should be careful,” Panda said.

Agency