The protesting junior doctors of Bengal --- who have been sitting on a dharna near Swasthya Bhavan in Kolkata for the past more than 38 hours --- responded to the Bengal Government's offer for talks saying the dialogue process could resume only if the Government would concede to their four-point demand.

Contrary to the condition set by the Government that the doctors could send only 12-15 representatives the agitating doctors wanted them to be represented by of at least 30 members. "There are 26 medical colleges and many more super-specialty hospitals … so we want at least 30 members to represent our side," said one of the doctors adding "we have also demanded that the talks should be live-streamed by the media and should be held in presence of the Chief Minister so that no contradictory statement emanates in future … and not least the talks should be held on the five-point demand that we have been raising for the past one month."

The junior doctors of Bengal have been on a "cease work" for the past one month demanding justice for Abhaya the postgraduate lady doctor of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital who was raped and murdered on August 8.

The doctors had defied the Supreme Court order directing the agitating doctors to join work by 5 pm on Tuesday. Instead they took out a march to the Swasthya Bhavan and had been sitting there on a dharna for the past more than 38 hours.

In a moving development showing that the doctors' movement had was gradually reaching the other strata of the society people from far and wide not only joined the doctors in the dharna but many of them brought breakfast, tea and lunch from their respective houses to serve them.

"This is our holy duty to stand by these doctors who are fighting not only for justice to women as a whole but also improve the health sector … we will continue to bring food for them as long as they sit here," said women from nearby Salt Lake area.

Earlier State Chief Secretary Manoj Panth sent an e-mail to the doctors inviting them for talks after the medics turned down a previous mail sent by State Health Secretary terming it "insulting" for the doctors. The mail sent by Panth read "we invite your delegation, preferably consisting of 12-15 colleagues to join us for a discussion at 6 p.m. today, i.e. 11.09.2024, in Nabanna. A list of the members of your delegation may please be intimated by email. We look forward to your positive response and hope for a fruitful dialogue."

It also reminded how the doctors had "unfortunately" defied the Apex Court order directing them to resume work.

The doctors wrote back to the Government that they were ready for talks anytime and anywhere depending on four conditions met by the Government. "We have written to the Government that we are ready for talks anytime and anywhere … but the talks must be held in presence of the Chief Minister madam and have to be telecast live by the media … we have also made it categorically clear that the talks will have to be held on the five-point demand that we have been raising for the past one month," said a doctor.

There was no communication coming back from State secretariat Nabanna, when reports last came in, sources said adding the proposals of the doctors were being weighed up by the administration.

The doctors have been demanding "justice for the RG Kar victim, removal of State Health Secretary and two Directors of Health Education and Health Services, revamping and beefing up of the security network," and eradication of threat-culture and syndicate raj in medical education that range from extortion from the students and mass cheating racket, sources said.

In a parallel development, the senior doctors who had thus far been supporting the movement from outside on Wednesday descended on the streets of Kolkata taking out a long rally first to the Medical Council of Bengal and then to the Swasthya Bhavan.

"Our rally is to tell our juniors that we are there to support them and if need be we will descend on the streets in their resolve to cleanse the medical health sector of Bengal," said Manas Gumta a senior doctor.