Mamata Banerjee landed at the junior doctors’ protest site in Salt Lake on Saturday afternoon ending days of speculation on who will meet whom and where for a thaw in relations between the state’s administration and young medical practitioners.
What followed was a familiar Mamata, identifying herself as someone who has risen from protests like the one being spearheaded by the junior doctors.
Excerpts from what she said standing under tarpaulin sheets with hundreds of junior doctors who had braved night-long rain and days of scorching sun in the audience.
Hats off
I doff my hat to your protests. I have myself risen through students’ movements.
It rained last night. You suffered a lot. I could not sleep either. I was pained at how you have been sitting through the inclement weather. I am mentally pained. When you are on the street, I too have to remain awake as the paharadar (watchman).
I have come to tell you that you have suffered a lot in this inclement weather. Do not suffer anymore.
I promise justice
If anyone is guilty, they will receive punishment. I can tell you that I will not do any injustice to you.
I will again request you to talk among yourselves and return to work. You are my brothers and sisters. I will not take any action against you.
I am not UP (Uttar Pradesh) police. They implemented the Esma (Essential Services Maintenance Act). They did not allow strikes or rallies for six months. I will not do these things. Stay assured. I am against taking any action against you.
You do a lot of work. The death in the kidney department... a catheter could not be changed. You are much needed.
If you trust me... If I can come to your dharna dais as a compatriot (sahayoddha)... if you believe me, I will do it (change things) gradually, it cannot be done in a day.
Give me time. Go back to work
I will appeal to you to give me some time. I will consider your issues. If you have faith in me, I will take a decision if I find anyone guilty. I have come to tell you this.
If you go back to work, I promise to study your demands sympathetically, I will talk to officers. I do not run the government alone, there is the chief secretary, home secretary, DGP (director general of police).
Your families are worried. Many patients are also dying. You are brothers and sisters of our homes, please get back to duties.
We have started development, (building) the infrastructure of hospitals and will do more.
Supreme Court
One more thing. The case is being heard in the Supreme Court. There is a hearing on September 17. I do not want any harm to be done to you.
Came as elder sister, not as CM
I have come here to request you as an elder sister. I have not come here as the chief minister. Yes, I am also the chief minister. I also belong to a party. I have come to you, if you say as a chief minister, as an elder sister. And as someone sympathetic of and empathetic towards your movement.
I will request you listen to me. I have solved your problems earlier, too. I will try to do so again. Give me some time.
Do not eat whatever is being given.
Changes in Rogi Kalyan Samiti
I will make medical college principals chairpersons of the Rogi Kalyan Samitis. Junior doctors, senior doctors, nurses, one public representative and police will be members. I am dissolving the Rogi Kalyan Samiti of RG Kar and all medical colleges. I will constitute them afresh.
Do not know the guilty
If anyone is found guilty, they will be punished. They are not my friends. They are not my enemies.
Those of you thinking they are my friends, I don’t even know them. They have no links with us. They have come through a process. This process comes to me when it becomes final. Those who came within a month, if they are involved with the murder, with the corruption, I will try my best to take action against them.
Not a single corrupt tender has come to me to date.
I am not aware of which Rogi Kalyan Samiti does what. It does not come under my purview. If you have any complaint, we will probe it. One cannot be punished without a probe. If the enquiry finds someone guilty, I will punish them.
In CBI’s power
I will request the CBI for a speedy investigation. If required, they should give capital punishment within three months. (As Mamata was speaking, cries of ‘we want justice’ rose from the protesting doctors) Yes, there will be justice. Go to the CBI and demand justice in the Tilottoma case.
My last effort
I can only appeal to you. I cannot force you.
I was on a hunger strike for 26 days. The CPM government was in power. No one came to speak even for one day. I have come because I do not think my stature goes down if I come to you, but it goes up. Please sit and talk among yourselves. Take a decision.
This is my last attempt for you. If you leave the rest to me, I can assure you there will not be injustice, you will get justice.