Page 14 - Mamata Banerjee

RG Kar case: Two more doctors join hunger strike as it completes first week

Two more junior doctors have joined six of their colleagues who have been on a fast-unto-death here for the past seven days, demanding justice for the murdered woman medic at RG Kar Hospital, along with other crucial issues. Parichoy Panda from Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan and Alolika Ghorui from Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital joined the protest on Saturday, taking the total number of medics on indefinite fast across the state to 10, including the two at North Bengal Medical College in Siliguri. Meanwhile, the condition of the fasting doctors have worsened, with fellow medics saying their health parameters are "declining." They have been on hunger strike since October 5. Dr. Debasish Halder, one of the protesting doctors, said, "They are very weak and all their parameters are declining. The presence of creatinine in their urine has increased. Seven days of fasting is definitely taking a toll on their health, but it hasn't weakened their resolve for ...

RG Kar case: WB govt silent, condition of fasting medics deteriorating

Junior doctors in West Bengal continued their indefinite hunger strike for the sixth consecutive day, drawing support from several senior doctors across the country and prompting the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to urge Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to intervene before the situation escalates. The ongoing agitation has also led the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) to warn that it would declare a nationwide "complete shutdown of medical services" if any "any harm befalls brave junior doctors". The agitating doctors are demanding justice for their murdered colleague at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, along with a safer working environment and other important issues. On Friday, IMA national president RV Asokan met the fasting junior doctors to hear their concerns. After visiting another junior medic admitted to RG Kar hospital, he expressed his admiration for the protesters, stating, "I am touched by the way these children are fighting for the cause of the

RK Kar row: IMA writes to CM Mamata on fast unto death by junior docs

Expressing concern over the deteriorating health conditions of the agitating junior doctors, who are on fast unto death, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) wrote to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and sought her immediate intervention. In the letter, IMA president RV Asokan said the West Bengal government was entirely capable of meeting all their demands. "It has been almost a week since the young doctors of Bengal are on fast-unto-death struggle. The IMA supports their just demands. They deserve your immediate attention. The government of West Bengal is entirely capable of meeting all the demands," he said in the letter dated October 10, which was made public on Friday. "Peaceful ambience and security are not a luxury. They are a prerequisite. We appeal to your goodself to settle the issues with the young generation doctors as an elder and the Head of the Government. The entire medical fraternity of India is concerned and trust you would be able to save their lives. If

Bengal doctors' stir: IMA writes to CM Mamata, says security a prerequisite

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Thursday urged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to resolve the issues of junior doctors who are on a hunger strike in Kolkata, saying a safe working environment is not a luxury but a prerequisite. In a letter to Banerjee, the IMA said it has been almost a week since the young doctors started the hunger strike and they deserve her "immediate attention". The junior doctors of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata have been protesting against the alleged rape and murder of a colleague on August 9. Their indefinite hunger strike entered the fifth day on Thursday. The IMA said it supports the "just demands" of the protesting doctors. "They deserve your immediate attention," the IMA said in its letter to Banerjee, adding that the West Bengal government is fully capable of fulfilling all demands of the protesters. "Peaceful ambience and security are not a luxury. They are a prerequisite. We appeal to your good self to settle the

Irreparable loss: CMs of eastern states mourn Ratan Tata's demise

Chief ministers of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha on Wednesday evening condoled the demise of Tata Group's chairman emeritus and veteran industrialist Ratan Tata, and said his legacy will live on forever. The 86-year-old Padma Vibhushan breathed his last at south Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital at 11.30 pm, a top police officer told PTI. He was admitted to the hospital for the past few days. Saddened by the demise of Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of the Tata Sons. The former Chairman of Tata Group had been a foremost leader of Indian industries and a public-spirited philanthropist. His demise will be an irreparable loss for Indian business world and society. My condolences to all his family members and colleagues, Banerjee wrote on X. In 2008, the Tata Group decided to move the Nano factory out of Singur in Bengal's Hooghly district over a land acquisition controversy. Banerjee, whose TMC was in the opposition back then, had spearheaded a movement against the ruling Left Front, .

Kolkata case: Doctors' association calls for nationwide strike on Oct 9

Kolkata case updates: The CBI on Monday filed a chargesheet naming Sanjoy Roy as sole accused in connection with the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital

Doctors issue 24-hour ultimatum over medic's murder, threaten hunger strike

Junior doctors protesting the recent rape and murder incident at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital on Friday issued the state government a 24-hour ultimatum to meet their demands, warning that they will begin an indefinite hunger strike if unmet.The protest took place at Esplanade, where a junior doctor, Parichay Panda, said, "Our demand is simple. We've given the government time to improve the safety and security of hospitals. However, the government has failed to do so. They even admitted before the Supreme Court that only a few measures have been implemented."Panda further noted that the government is unwilling to engage in discussions."If our demands are not fulfilled within 24 hours, we will begin an indefinite hunger strike tomorrow. Some of us will remain here, while others will continue serving the people of West Bengal," he added.On Wednesday, undergraduate and postgraduate students, junior doctors, and interns from North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri .

Attempts to tarnish West Bengal's image before the world: CM Mamata

Inaugurating a slew of community Durga pujas in Kolkata and other districts of West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that some people were trying to tarnish the image of the state before the world. The rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9 has led to large-scale protests across the country and also in some places across the globe. "Those who are trying to tarnish (the image of) Bengal before the world will someday realise that they cannot absolve themselves of what they are doing," she said at Chetla Agrani club, from where she also virtually inaugurated a large number of community Durga pujas in several districts. Without naming anyone, Banerjee said that no one can rise by insulting the "mother", terming West Bengal as the mother figure. Junior doctors in state-run medical colleges in West Bengal struck work for over a month since the gruesome crime and have resumed from Tuesday 'total cease work' demanding

Kolkata doctor case: Junior doctors resume strike; know why

After junior doctors had resumed partial duties on September 21, they have once again announced to go back to complete stoppage of work.

Kolkata RG Kar case: Doctors resume 'indefinite strike', list 10 demands

Kolkata rape-murder case: Junior doctors resumed their indefinite 'total cease work' on October 1 and criticised the Central Bureau of Investigation for the slow pace of their inquiry

RG Kar case: West Bengal junior doctors resume strike over safety concerns

The junior doctors restarted the strike after an eight-hour meeting, outlining 10 key demands, including better hospital security and improved health infrastructure

West Bengal to hire 12,000 police officers for enhanced hospital security

The recruitment process is set to commence on September 30, following discussions with leaders from medical colleges and hospitals

Mamata govt not providing land to secure B'desh border, alleges Suvendu

Asserting that Bangladeshi infiltrators are a major concern for Jharkhand, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday accused Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal which shares a border with the neighbouring country, of not providing land to BSF for fencing work due to her "appeasement politics". Adhikari, the leader of opposition in the West Bengal assembly, arrived in Jharkhand earlier in the day to take part in the BJP's 'Parivartan Yatra' in Dhanbad district. "There are 72 places in West Bengal where the Mamata Banerjee government did not provide land to the Border Security Force (BSF) to complete fencing along the international boundary with Bangladesh. The Ministry of Home Affairs had urged Mamata Banerjee to provide land but she didn't give plots only for vote bank and appeasement politics," Adhikari told reporters in Bokaro. He claimed that the Bangladeshi infiltrators were "entering West Bengal through the unfenced areas and their population rose to 35 per cent in

Amidst war on DVC, Bengal Power secy Santanu Basu steps down from board

Amid a war of words between West Bengal government and Centre over release of water from reservoirs of Damodar Valley Corporation, state Power secretary Santanu Basu has stepped down from the Board of DVC, officials said on Sunday. The Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Waterways of West Bengal has also quit the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee (DVRRC), they said. Basu in an email to DVC chairman on September 21 said "In view of the unprecedented and uncontrolled release of water by the DVC from its dam systems, leading to widespread inundation causing immense sufferings to the people in vast areas of the state, I do hereby tender my resignation as the member of state from the Board of DVC." State Information and Cultural Affairs Department in a statement on Sunday said "apart from the Power secretary, the Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Waterways, West Bengal, also resigned to voice protest on the same issue from Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee (DVRRC)." The

Mamata writes to PM Modi on Bengal flood, says her govt not consulted

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote another letter to PM Narendra Modi on the flood situation in West Bengal, maintaining that Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) released water from its reservoirs without consulting her government, inundating several districts. Responding to Banerjee's earlier letter to the PM, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil had said the state's officials were informed at every stage about the release of water from DVC reservoirs, which was essential to prevent a major disaster. Banerjee said, "While the hon'ble minister claims that the release from DVC dams was carried out by consensus and collaboration with the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee, including consultations with representatives of the government of West Bengal, I may respectfully disagree." "All the critical decisions are made unilaterally by representatives of the Central Water Commission, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India without arriving at a consensus," she said. Banerjee

Guv Bose seeks explanation from Mamata on Bengal-Jharkhand border sealing

Banerjee on Thursday ordered that vehicle movement between Bengal and Jharkhand would be sealed after the water level rose

Bengal flood: Guv asks Mamata to do her duty, not pass buck to DVC

West Bengal, Governor CV Ananda Bose on Friday shot off a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee advising her to carry out her duties following flood in the state and not to blame the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) for the inundation, a Raj Bhavan source said. Earlier in the day, he sent another letter to the CM enquiring about the flood situation and the preparedness of the state government to tackle it. Banerjee, during the day, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi informing him that the state would sever all ties with DVC for "unilaterally releasing water" which led to floods in several south Bengal districts. Banerjee visited a few places affected by the deluge. In the latest communication to her, Bose referred to a report of experts which claimed that the districts of Bankura, Birbhum and Paschim Medinipore "do not fall in the Damodar Valley river system and the inundation there was due to the extreme rainfall conditions over Kangsabati, Silabati and Dwarakeshwar rivers".

Exploring journey of India's women Chief Ministers: From Sucheta to Atishi

Mayawati became the first Dalit woman to hold the post, meanwhile, Syeda Anwara Taimur was the first Muslim woman

Bengal floods: CM Mamata writes to PM, threatens to sever ties with DVC

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that her state would sever all ties with the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) for "unilaterally releasing water", which led to floods in south Bengal districts. In a four-page letter to Modi, she claimed that five million people in Bengal have been affected by the floods, and urged him to immediately sanction and release central funds to address the widespread devastation caused by the deluge. Sharply retorting to her remarks, senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari challenged the chief minister to execute her ultimatum by the end of the day and warned that if Banerjee severed ties with the DVC, several districts in southern Bengal would plunge into darkness. "I would like to draw your kind attention to the fact that as a result of an unprecedented, unplanned, and unilateral release of an enormously huge volume of water at nearly five lakh cusec from the combined system of Maithon and Panch

'Watch your daughters; woman had liquor at RG Kar protest': Bengal minister

TMC has distanced itself from Bengal Minister Swapan Debnath's comments, made about the women participating in the 'Reclaim the Night' movements after the RG Kar rape-murder incident