Indian Medical Association calls for nationwide Hunger Strike in solidarity with Kolkata doctors

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) is hosting a hunger strike 15th October on Tuesday in solidarity with the doctors of Kolkata who are on fast unto death since 5^th October in protest against the brutal rape and murder of trainee a doctor in the state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, which took place on the 9^th of August this year. The IMA has urged all office bearers and resident doctors across the country to join the hunger strike which will go on for 12 hours on Tuesday.

The medical body announced in an official statement, “Across the country, IMA will hold a dawn-to-dusk fast from 6 AM to 6 PM on Tuesday, 15th October 2024. IMA will coordinate with RDAs and support their local actions.”

“Young doctors of Kolkata are on a fast-unto-death struggle for their legitimate demands. They are on their ninth day of fasting. Three of them have been hospitalised. The movement has the support of the people. IMA has appealed to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to accept their demands. IMA National President Dr. RV Asokan has visited the fasting doctors and the leaders of the movement,” the IMA further stated.

Meanwhile, the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) has also warned of a nationwide “complete shutdown of medical services” if any harm is caused to the protesting junior doctors.

Junior doctors in Kolkata march to Raj Bhavan seeking justice

On Monday, the protesting junior doctors marched towards Raj Bhavan in Kolkata to demand justice in the R G Kar Hospital junior doctor rape and murder case. They have delivered a memorandum to the Governor’s secretary.

Senior doctors, common people, including senior citizens and homemakers also joined the protesting junior doctors. The junior doctors are on a hunger strike for the last 11 days in Kolkata’s Esplanade. Due to the ongoing fast-unto-death, some of the protesting junior doctors have fallen critically ill and have been admitted to hospital.

The protesting doctors are unhappy with the charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case, which has held civic volunteer Sanjay Roy responsible for the rape.

“We cannot accept what the CBI has stated in its charge sheet – only one person was behind the crime. We demand a quick and transparent investigation of the rape and murder of our sister at RG Kar Hospital. We are not going to the Raj Bhavan to meet the governor and seek his intervention. But we will be giving out our message to him,” Debasish Halder, one of the protesting junior doctors told PTI.