Mamata Banerjee declares herself ‘ready to resign’ in dispute with doctors

New Delhi:

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was represented by junior doctors invited to a meeting at the state secretariat today, said in an emotional speech that she was not keen on the state's top post and was ready to resign “in the interest of the people”. She assured the doctors that no action would be taken against them and said the government was always ready for dialogue. Her anger was directed at the people who, she suggested, had planned the protests for their own interests.

Referring to the spread of anti-government messages on social media, she said: “Our government has been insulted. Ordinary people do not know that this has a political coloring.”

The people behind the political facade, she said, “don't want justice. They want the presidency.”

“In the interest of the people, I am ready to resign. I do not want the post of Chief Minister. I want justice for Tilottama. And I want the common people to get medical care,” the Chief Minister said at a press conference after waiting for the delegation of junior doctors for two hours.

The doctors had come to the gate of the Secretariat to attend the meeting, which was scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., but they refused to enter the building because the government had rejected one of their demands – a live broadcast of the meeting.

Ms Banerjee said they had followed instructions. “I know many in the delegation were interested in talks. But two out of three people were giving instructions from outside. We have all that. We could see that because it was recorded by the press who were right behind it… They were giving instructions – 'Don't negotiate, don't go to the meeting,'” Ms Banerjee said.