As a young Bob Dylan wrote almost sixty years ago, ‘our sons and daughters are indeed beyond our control’. Perhaps TMC leaders would do well to realise that one should get out of the way, if one can’t lend a hand, because the times are a changing.
In Bob Dylan’s seminal classic The Times a Changin’ there’s a very significant line about rebellion which goes: “Come mothers and fathers. Throughout the land. And don't criticize. What you can't understand. Your sons and your daughters. Are beyond your command. Your old road is. Rapidly agin'. Please get out of the new one. If you can't lend your hand. For the times they are a-changin'”
Didi vs Doctors: Rage spreads from Kolkata to Delhi, Mumbai and other cities, medical services hit
On Thursday, as the junior doctors’ stir after one of their colleagues was heinously attacked, the TMC learned the hard way that even their sons and daughters were beyond their command.
Read: Ashamed to be a TMC supporter, says Shabbha Hakim
While the doctors’ protest in Kolkata has evoked reactions across the country – from the Indian Medical Association to AIIMS’ doctors expressing solidarity – even TMC supporters and their kin weren’t far behind in expressing their displeasure.
Mass Resignations continue, HC asks Bengal govt to reply
First, Kolkata Mayor Firhad ‘Bobby’ Hakim’s daughter wrote an angry Facebook post wondering why the police was quiet even as truckloads of goons attacked doctors. She took to Facebook and wrote, “For those who do not know doctors in government and most private hospitals are boycotting OPD but are still working in emergency. For those saying, ‘Ono rugider ki dosh’ meaning what is the fault of patients, please question the government as in why the police officers posted in government hospitals do little to nothing to protect doctors.”
Watch: Mamata Banerjee’s nephew leading a protest rally against the government. Dr. Abesh Banerjee who himself is a junior doctor with government run KPC hospital can be seen in a video protesting and showing solidarity with junior doctors of NRS @dna @ZeeNews @WIONews pic.twitter.com/21SyXlgMAI
— Pooja Mehta (@pooja_zeenews) June 13, 2019
Adding, “Please question why goons are still surrounding hospitals and beating up doctors? We have a right to peaceful protest. We have a right to safety at work.”
But even if that wasn’t rebellious enough, Mamata’s own kin could be seen leading the protest. On a day that the West Bengal CM threatened junior doctors by stating they’d be thrown out of their hostels, her brother’s son could be seen leading the charge. A video has surfaced which shows her nephew and brother’s son Dr Abesh Banerjee leading a protest showing solidarity with agitating doctors. Abesh, who is the son of Mamata’s brother Kartick Banerjee, is a doctor with KPC Medical College and Hospital. Sources say Abesh led a protest rally on Wednesday from KPC hospital to the NRS hospital.
As a young Bob Dylan wrote almost sixty years ago, ‘our sons and daughters are indeed beyond our control’. Perhaps TMC leaders would do well to realise that one should get out of the way, if one can’t lend a hand, because the times are a changing.
1. Docs refuse to end stir
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Striking junior doctors across West Bengal on Thursday refused to end their stir till their demands on security in government hospitals are met and defied a deadline set by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who came down heavily on the protesters alleging that opposition BJP and CPI(M) were provoking them and giving communal colour to the issue.
Emergency wards, outdoor facilities, pathological units of many state-run medical colleges and hospitals and a number of private medical facilities in the state remained closed for the third day due to the strike by the doctors who are protesting after two of their colleagues were attacked and seriously injured at the NRS Medical College and Hospital here by a mob following the death of a patient.
2. IMA join protest
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The India Medical Association has declared "All India Protest Day" on Friday against the incident and expressed solidarity with the striking doctors.
The opposition attacked Banerjee over the impasse, with the BJP accusing her of acting as "Hitler". There was high drama as the chief minister reached the state-run SSKM hospital here at around noon amid slogans of "we want justice" by the doctors.
"I condemn the agitation. The junior doctors' strike is a conspiracy by the CPI(M) and the BJP," Banerjee, who also holds the health and family welfare portfolio, said and directed the police to clear the premises and only allow patients to stay.
She gave the doctors a four-hour deadline to rejoin service, but later revised it to 2 pm. Warning of strict action against those who do not resume work, she said they will have to vacate hostels.
Despite Banerjee's ultimatum, the agitating doctors continued their stir. A joint platform of doctors met Governor K N Tripathi, who appealed them to resume duties.
3. Agitation to continue
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"We will continue with our agitation till our demands are fulfilled. Our demands are simple... proper security with armed policemen at all hospitals, arrest of culprits involved in the NRS attack on Saturday under non-bailable sections, "We did not expect the chief minister to say what she did," a member of the delegation said. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief, however alleged that outsiders had entered medical colleges and hospitals to create disturbances.
"The BJP, with help from the CPI(M), is indulging in Hindu-Muslim politics. I am shocked to see their love affair," Banerjee said, "BJP chief Amit Shah is encouraging his party cadre to create communal tension and run a propaganda on Facebook." The TMC and the BJP are locked in a bitter turf in West Bengal, which has been rocked by post-poll violence, with Banerjee accusing the saffron party of trying to foment trouble in the state to topple her government. The BJP has claimed that Banerjee is targeting it as she is rattled by its major gains in Lok Sabha elections.
In a Facebook post, the chief minister highlighted the plight of patients in hospitals due to the ongoing strike and claimed the government was cooperating with doctors.
She described the injuries sustained by the two junior doctors at NRS Medical College and Hospital as "unfortunate".
4. Five arrested
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Five persons have been arrested in connection with the incident, Banerjee said, adding that an inquiry has also been ordered to look into complaint of negligence during treatment, resulting in the death of the patient.
"Cancer patients, kidney patients, accident victims, even children coming from distant places are suffering for not getting treatment," she said.
Banerjee also wrote to senior doctors of all medical colleges and hospitals in the state and requested them to continue taking care of patients.
The opposition parties slammed the CM for her alleged "threats" to agitating doctors and sought her immediate resignation as the health minister.
BJP leader Mukul Roy alleged Banerjee has become authoritarian and is behaving like "Hitler".
Accusing the TMC supremo of politicizing the issue, CPI (M) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty said Banerjee does not seem interested in ending the impasse.
5. Opp leaders slam Mamata
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State Congress president Somen Mitra also criticised the chief minister and said the state government should take appropriate measure to ensure safety and security of doctors.
There were reports claiming that over half a dozen doctors at the state-run College of Medicine & Sagar Dutta Hospital in Kamarhati area of North 24 Pargana district resigned in support of the ongoing protests by junior doctors across West Bengal but there was no official confirmation.
"Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is overseeing the entire situation. I have no information about the reports of the resignation of doctors," said Chandrima Bhattacharya, Minister of State for Health.
A Raj Bhawan statement said the Governor has appealed to doctors to resume their duties in the interest of the patients.
The doctors' stir had an echo in Delhi too.
6. Union Health Minister condemn incident
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Union Heath Minister Harsh Vardhan condemned the violence against doctors in Kolkata and urged patients and their attendants to exercise restraint. He said he will take up the matter of doctors' security with all chief ministers and asked the doctors to ensure that essential services to the people are not disrupted.
Meanwhile, several resident doctors at the AIIMS in national capital worked with bandages on their heads as a symbolic protest and have decided to boycott work on Friday.
