Trinamool Congress’s Bankura MP Arup Chakraborty has warned striking doctors that his party will not protect them from the wrath of the public if they
fail in their duties amid ongoing protests.
He issued the warning during a public rally organised by the ruling party in Bankura town on Sunday in protest against the junior doctor’s rape and murder.
“There would be public fury if patients die at the hospital or if the doctors do not perform their duties or if they abstain from work in the name of agitation or even go about with their boyfriends… the public fury will be automatic,” Chakraborty said.
The MP said Trinamool would not “shield” the doctors from the backlash if patients suffered because of the strike.
“If patients die without treatment and public anger falls on you, we will not be able to protect you,” he said, urging the doctors to avoid any “unruly” behaviour in the name of their protest.
Although the MP drew flak for his comments, he iterated that the striking doctors could not expect protection if there was public outrage.
The continuing strike by junior doctors at government hospitals in Bengal significantly hit healthcare services.
The protesting doctors said not only Chakraborty but also other Trinamool leaders like Sreerampur MP Kalyan Banerjee and minister Udayan Guha had issued similar warnings.
On Monday, Trinamool state vice-president Jay Prakash Majumdar alleged a nexus between private and public healthcare service providers to ensure that private facilities got more business because of the agitation in the public sector.
Opposition leaders, including CPM central committee member Sujan Chakraborty, have called the threats a desperate attempt to gain favour with the chief minister.
“It is a vicious thought. Do they or their party decide what the protesting doctors will do? They should look at society first and the extent of damage their party has done so far to the society. Trinamool leaders like Arup Chakraborty are desperately trying to increase weightage before the chief minister, joining a competition with other party leaders”, said CPM’s Chakraborty.
The agitating doctors said Arup Chakraborty’s comments were an “open provocation” for violence, demanding that he “focus” on securing justice for the deceased doctor, instead of inciting anger against them.
“People from all walks of society have not just spontaneously come out to extend support to our movement. Rather, they have become part of the larger agitation. So why should there be a mob fury against us? Otherwise, someone should provoke people, like the way a mob went on a rampage at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and police watched it as mute spectators,” an agitating doctor said.
With the medical community on the warpath seeking justice and safety, the number of patients in OPDs at government healthcare facilities is gradually decreasing.
At Kalyani College of Medicine and JNM Hospital in Nadia, only emergency service was available on Monday. In-patient service was available but many got discharged for inadequate service by the doctors.
At the Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital in Berhampore, patients and their relatives raised their voices against inadequate doctors. However, senior doctors later offered services outdoors and managed the situation.