)* 9/8 ! : : : VRGR $"#(!#1')VCEBRS WWT!Pa!RT%&!$"#1$# )! +),-. ,#,#. # +,#- %,/011 A /)$5$A/ ;,*$<$*;7*8.<#5,#5$ #45--$*+*./.+#5A 8$5).5,+4 7 )#5),# $7#* /-</=/ *# +).*#.,* +)# 8.-#*) +*... 8.# #*;"..)#+4$8/8$#/) 8$)*#8, );8$*##8<.6#;7#8# 5 + '(%>>))* %?> @# $ !# # /#0# -123 % R #% %# 454#/# the meeting be held at Nabanna. The doctors, how- he junior doctors of West ever, said they would go to the TBengal on Monday called secretariat only if the meeting off their week-long strike fol- was aired live on television. lowing a “fruitful discussion” Her stance was a climb- with Chief Minister Mamata down from her Thursday’s Banerjee, who accepted all position when she told a large their demands, including strin- gathering of striking doctors at gent action against perpetrators the SSKM Hospital to join of crimes against on-duty duty in four hours or face con- ! medicos. sequences. She subsequently “We are satisfied with the held out threats of invoking 6#, talks being held in an extreme- Essential Services Maintenance ly cordial atmosphere,” said Act (ESMA) and cited how the he sinister design of terror- one of the 31 delegates of doc- State Governments of Gujarat, Tists to enact the February 14 tors from all over Bengal who Rajasthan, Haryana, J&K, and like Pulwama terror attack on were escorted by a Government Tamil Nadu had taken strin- Monday evening in Arihal area vehicle to the State secretariat gent actions against striking of Pulwama by triggering an Nabanna, where the Chief doctors. IED blast on a patrol party of Minister met them for more Fresh from an unimpres- 44 Rashtriya Rifles was foiled than an hour and a half. & ' ( $ ) sive show in the parliamentary and damage minimised due to “This discussion was very elections and under pressure the alertness of the security fruitful as both the sides reci- Hours later the doctors assaulted physically or verbal- against the assaulters.” from all quarters to stand by forces and the troops travelling (( procated to each other’s views formally told reporters at Nil ly. We assume after our con- In a remarkable display of the doctors, Mamata invited in the hardened ALS (a fortified $ in a very positive manner,” the Ratan Sarkar Medical College versation with the Chief diplomatic skills, Mamata the doctors to a meeting where truck). Chief Minister said, adding, she and Hospital (NRSMCH) that Minister that the State will turned the situation in her she was accompanied among However, in another inci- was “grateful to the doctors as they are ending the strike and have zero tolerance against favour yielding to the doctors’ others by Minister of State for dent earlier, an Army Major military troopers were killed. to powerful explosion”. “The they responded to my call for “will join our work as soon as assault on doctors. This has to demand for a live coverage of Health Chandrima was martyred and a terrorist The area, where Army entire area has been cordoned discussion and came all the way possible,” adding “we are now be remembered by the entire her meeting with them. The Bhattacharya, Chief Secretary killed, while another officer and vehicle was targeted by the ter- off and search in the area is to Nabanna. The talks with convinced that the Chief population not only of Bengal doctors initially wanted her to Malay De, Principal Secretary two troopers were injured on rorists was roughly 25 kms going on,” he added. them were constructive and I Minister will take action if any but the entire country. If there visit the epicentre of the move- Health Rajiv Sinha, State DGP Monday in an encounter away from the site of the In another anti-terrorist hope the doctors will go back doctor is assaulted in future.” is violence then that will come ment at the NRS Medical Virendra, Kolkata between security forces and the Pulwama terror attack. A operation, a Major of the and announce their withdraw- One of their representatives with consequences. The Chief College and Hospital but sub- Commissioner of Police Anuj ultras in Jammu & Kashmir’s Ministry of Defence spokesper- Indian Army on Monday al of strike as we have accept- iterated, “No doctor or nobody Minister has told us that there sequently conceded to the Sharma and others. Anantnag district, officials said. son in Srinagar claimed a attained martyrdom in Badura ed all their demands.” from any profession can be will be stringent legal action Chief Minister’s conditions that Deliberating on the 12- An intelligence report “failed” attempt was made to area of Anantnag while one ter- Drawing a loud applause point demand of the doctors about terrorists’ attempt to use attack a mobile vehicle patrol rorist, believed to be a foreign from the doctors’ delegation, the CM said the Government an IED blast on a Army convoy in the general area of Arihal in national, was neutralised dur- the Chief Minister further said, would forward allow only two in South Kashmir districts and Pulwama. ing the day-long operation. “These are like our children. It ! persons to go inside the subsequent alertness obiviated He said, “All troops are safe Police spokeperson in is their right to make justified Emergency enclosure, tighten the crisis. with minor injuries”. Srinagar said, “During a search demands and the Government security network, make a pro- Terrorists had used a sim- Police spokesperson in and cordon operation by the will always stand by them, vision for public relation offi- ilar strategy while targeting a Srinagar said, “Six Armymen joint forces at Badura in including in their times of dis- cials to handle the patients’ CRPF convoy on the Jammu- have sustained injuries in the Achabal area of Anantnag, ter- tress, as they are serving the party more effectively. Srinagar National Highway on terror incident while two civil- rorist fired on the search party.” society against all odds.” $78$5). Continued on Page 6 February 14 in which 40 para- ians also sustained injuries due Continued on Page 6 s the medical fraternity’s Anationwide strike hit healthcare services and left "# $ %& patients and their relatives high and dry across States, the Supreme Court on Monday $R " said it will hear on Tuesday a plea seeking safety and securi- ty of doctors in Government hospitals in the country. The Indian Medical Association (IMA), the apex body of medical practitioners, had called for a three-day nationwide strike in protest !" against the assault on doctors O !! in West Bengal allegedly by the 5,+4 7 Satyadeo Pachauri (MSME " relatives of a patient who died # $78$5). and Khadi and Village !# on June 10 at NRS Medical ttar Pradesh Governor Industry Minister. $ %&' College Hospital in Kolkata. enior BJP leader and former URam Naik has accepted Following the realloca- " ) A large number of patients SUnion Health Minister Jagat the resignations of three min- tion of the portfolios, the * + and their relatives, caught ! " Prakash Nadda was on isters of the Yogi Adityanath Chief Minister will have addi- , ) unaware of the strike, were seen #$ Monday appointed the working Council of Ministers who tional portfolio of Women - ! waiting outside various hospi- president of the BJP with Amit ) have been elected to the Lok Welfare and Tourism. ! ! tals, appealing to authorities for at healthcare facilities. rity personnel at all State-run Shah to continue as the party + " " Sabha. The resignations of the Minority Affairs Minister !! help. In many Government For its part, a vacation hospitals to ensure safety and chief until December by when three ministers were for- Chaudhary Lakshmi Narayan and private hospitals across the Bench of Justices Deepak security of doctors. Assembly polls in Maharastra, warded by Chief Minister will look after Animal country, out-patient depart- Gupta and Surya Kant of the Due to the protests, health- Haryana and Jharkhand are body, met here at its head- Yogi Adityanath to the Husbandry and Fisheries. # # ments (OPDs) remained closed SC agreed to list the matter for care services have been badly slated for completion. Sixty- quarters with Prime Minister Governor. Irrigation Minister $ " . and scheduled surgeries were Tuesday after the counsel for disrupted and many people are year-old Nadda is expected to Narendra Modi, Shah and On the advice of the Dharampal Singh has been postponed. However, emer- the petitioner, advocate Alakh dying because of absence of become the full-fledged BJP Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief Minister, the Governor given additional portfolio of / O gency services remained oper- Alok Srivastava, sought urgent doctors, the plea said. It also president overseeing the 11- among others, in attendance. also redistributed the portfo- Minor Irrigation. %& " ational. hearing. sought directions to the Bengal crore-strong party after Shah Shah, who is saddled with lios. Health Minister Sidharth ! O Amid protests, Health The petition has also Government to take the completes his extended tenure the heavy responsibility of The ministers who Nath Singh has been given Minister Harsh Vardhan on sought directions to the Union strictest legal and penal action in January 2020. Ministry of Home Affairs, resigned include SP Singh additional portfolio of Family . Monday said the Union Ministries of home affairs and against those who assaulted The announcement was would ensure continuity and Baghel (Animal Husbandry Welfare. Industries Minister 0& Government will “revisit” the health and the West Bengal junior doctors at NRS Medical made after the BJP see the party through the three Minister), Rita Bahuguna Satish Mahana will also hold K 2 issue of drafting a Central law Government to depute College Hospital in Kolkata. Parliamentary Board, the Assembly polls. Joshi (Tourism and Women the charge of the MSME and ! 3 regarding the safety of medicos Government-appointed secu- Continued on Page 6 party’s highest decision-making Continued on Page 6 Welfare Minister) and Khadi and Village Industries.