West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee calls on people to stop protests and take part in the Puja celebrations

Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal. File | Image credit: PTI

Amid angry protests against the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday (September 9, 2024) urged the people to call off the protests and return to the Durga Puja celebrations and appealed to the protesting doctors to resume their work.

“If there are protests every day, people will be disturbed at night. A month has passed, I will request people to take part in the (Durga) Puja celebrations again,” she said. Thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest against rape and murder and demand safety for women in the workplace. Since the doctor's body was found on August 9, protesters have called for “Reclaim the Night” twice in the past month (on August 14 and September 8).

Kolkata rape and murder case LIVE updates: Supreme Court asks protesting doctors to resume work by 5 pm on September 10

The Chief Minister also said she did not offer any money to the victim's family and said lies were being spread in this regard. Ms Banerjee said she told the family that if they wanted a memorial for their daughter, the state government would help.

The chief minister said compensation was one of the demands of the GPs. The victim's parents claimed that the police offered money even though their daughter's body was not cremated. “They want what they want, justice, or in the name of justice they want the matter to remain in abeyance,” she said.

The Chief Minister added that Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal has offered to resign from the post. She said that a person who is well versed in law and order matters and is familiar with Durga Puja celebrations should take over the post. The protesting doctors have demanded the resignation of the Kolkata Police Commissioner over the rape and murder case.

The Chief Minister also appealed to the protesting junior doctors to return to work and expressed hope that the doctors will resume duty following the Supreme Court's order. The Supreme Court had asked the protesting junior doctors to return to duty by 5 pm on Tuesday (September 10, 2024) and assured that no action would be taken against them if they resume work.

Ms Banerjee said that 23 people had lost their lives due to the strike. According to West Bengal Health Minister NS Nigam, around 700,000 patients were not treated in the outpatient department and 70,000 were denied treatment in the inpatient department. Resident doctors have gone on strike in protest against the gruesome crime at RG Kar MCH and demanded safety at the workplace.

According to Mr Nigam, about 7,000 surgeries were postponed and 1,500 emergency cardiovascular procedures were performed.