A controversy erupted after the West Bengal government transferred 42 professors and doctors working in various medical colleges and hospitals across the state amid protests over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Among the 42 transferred are two doctors — Dr Sangeeta Paul and Dr Supriya Das — who were posted at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where the trainee doctor’s semi-naked body was found on August 9. The state health department has not reacted to the reason for their transfer.
The state government’s massive reshuffle triggered a backlash from the doctors’ associations and the opposition BJP, calling it a conspiracy and an attempt to “scare” senior healthcare professionals.
“We strongly condemn the @MamataOfficial @BengalGovernor unjust transfer of faculty members who supported our protest. These punitive measures will not silence our demands for justice and security. We stand united and resolute in our fight,” the United Doctors Front Association tweeted.
The response came as the Indian Medical Association (IMA) called a 24-hour nationwide cease-work protest, halting most health services from Saturday 6 am to Sunday 6 am, demanding justice for the trainee doctor’s rape-murder and improved working conditions for doctors.
Reacting to the transfer orders, a protesting doctor, Dr Kinjal Nanda, questioned the need for such a decision at a time when protests against the gruesome incident were going on.
“Senior professors and doctors were transferred. Those who were supporting our protest were transferred. We have raised our voice against this move. We don’t know what the conspiracy was. Those senior professors who were with us were from various universities and had supported us,” Dr Nanda said.
“We have seen the notification. Dr Sangeeta Paul was with us. She came here and supported us. But we don’t know why they were transferred. This is not clear to us. We are raising our voices and we want justice,” the doctor added.
BJP SLAMS DOCTORS’ TRANSFER ORDER
Criticising the transfer order of doctors and professors, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya accused the West Bengal government of making a “desperate attempt to scare the senior doctor community into submission”.
“On August 16, West Bengal government’s Health Ministry has issued an eight-page long list of transfer orders, adding to the already chaotic situation. On Mamata Banerjee’s target is Medical College Kolkata and Calcutta National Medical College. These two are the epicentre of protests against her fascist regime,” Malviya tweeted.
“So far, five professors from these two prestigious institutes have been transferred out to colleges in Siliguri, Tamluk, Jhargram etc. This is a desperate attempt to scare the senior doctor community into submission. What is Mamata Banerjee trying to hide?” he added.
ABOUT KOLKATA TRAINEE DOCTOR’S RAPE-MURDER
