SAD expresses solidarity with striking doctors
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today expressed solidarity with striking medicos who are agitating against attack on doctors of the NRS College in Kolkata which has led to violence against doctors across the State and urged West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to take immediate action to protect the life and liberty of doctors.
In a statement here, SAD vice president Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said it was extremely unfortunate that the West Bengal chief minister had failed to move swiftly and take action against a mob which attacked and critically injured a doctor of the NRS College in Kolkata after the death of a terminally ill patient. He said this had aggravated the situation and presently doctors were being attacked at several places in West Bengal. “This has paralysed medical services in the State and is now threatening to effect medical services across the country with doctors striking to express solidarity with their West Bengal counterparts”.
Urging chief minister Mamata Banerjee to understand the gravity of the situation, Dr Cheema said the attack on doctors at the NRS College should not be given a communal tinge under any circumstances. He said doctors in several other colleges of the State including the Vardhman Medical College, Calcutta Medical College and KBC College were being threatened. “Women doctors and nurses are being coerced to start medical services immediately and being told that if they do not do this they will be subject to acid attacks. Many doctors are closeted in hostels which are being gheroed. The gates of the Calcutta Medical College have been closed down for the first time in 184 years. It is the responsibility of the State government to protect doctors who are doing yeoman service under challenging circumstances. Already more than 100 doctors of the NRS College have submitted their resignations and if the West Bengal government does not move quickly the situation will spiral out of control”.
