The relentless hunger strike by junior doctors at RG Kar Medical College has hit a critical point as it enters its 14th day, with protesters’ health rapidly deteriorating. What started as a demand for justice is now a fight for survival, both figuratively and literally.
The protest, initiated on October 5, stems from the horrific rape and murder of a junior doctor on the hospital premises on August 9. EdexLive reports that the shocking incident sparked outrage, leading to this unprecedented hunger strike. Unwavering in their stance, the junior doctors call for nothing less than a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the crime, stricter workplace security measures, and the removal of West Bengal Health Secretary N S Nigam.
The situation took a dangerous turn as two of the doctors, Pulastha Acharya and Tanaya Panja, were rushed to the hospital’s Critical Care Unit after their health severely declined due to starvation. Their condition is a grim reminder of how serious this protest has become, raising alarms among fellow doctors and supporters.
The core issues remain unresolved despite high-level meetings, including one with Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on October 14. Although the government has conceded to seven out of the ten demands raised by the protesters, the most crucial points—the call for a CBI investigation and the ouster of the Health Secretary—are still “under administrative review,” further deepening the doctors' frustration.
As the standoff continues, the doctors remain adamant, vowing to persist with the strike until all their demands are met.
The stakes are higher than ever, with the lives of these junior doctors hanging in the balance. The question now is, how long will it take for the administration to act before this strike turns into a full-blown crisis?