“This is my last attempt to resolve the crisis,” Banerjee said.After the chief minister left the site, the agitating doctors said they were not ready to compromise on their demands till discussions were held.The medics have been camping outside Swasthya Bhawan, the headquarters of the state Health Department, since Tuesday with a host of demands, including better security at state-run hospitals and the removal of top officials over the rape and murder of the doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.The NDTV recalled that the West Bengal government had invited the doctors for talks on Tuesday, but they had rejected the invite because it had come from the health secretary, whose resignation they are seeking. On Wednesday, the doctors had made four key demands for the discussion to take place which included that they should be allowed to send a delegation of at least 30 and the discussion should be held in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.Three of the four demands for talks had been met and the doctors had reached the state secretariat on Thursday for a meeting but it did not take place because the government did not agree to its live streaming. Explaining the rationale after Thursday’s meeting did not happen, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who said she had been waiting for the doctors for over two hours, stated that the matter was in court and live streaming the meeting would be against protocol.Banerjee apologised to the people of West Bengal and said she was willing to step down, but also spoke of a “political colour” to the protests.(With inputs from PTI.)
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