West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said her government is open to discussion with the protesting junior doctors who are demanding justice for the RG Kar rape and murder victim. Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, she said the junior doctors should return to their work.

The Chief Minister held the press conference after the proposed meeting with the protesting junior doctors did not take place. The junior doctors have been demanding the meeting be live telecast, for which the state government did not agree. Ms. Mamata Banerjee said, as the rape and murder case of the PGT doctor is pending in the Supreme Court, it would not be proper to live telecast the meeting. She said 27 patients had died at medical colleges and many at home due to the cease-work of the junior doctors.

Earlier, the proposed meeting between the doctors and the state government failed to take place twice on Tuesday and Wednesday because of dissidence. The junior doctors have been sitting in front of the Swasthya Bhawan, the state headquarters of the health department, since Tuesday, demanding the resignation of the health secretary, director of health, and director of health education of the state, as well as justice for the victim.