Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday clarified her appeal to the junior doctors, who are on ceasework demanding justice for the RG Kar rape-murder victim, was not a "threat".

Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday urged the students to resume work reminding them that she didn't and has no plan to take any action against any of the protesters.

In an X post, the Chief Minister said, "I detect a malicious disinformation campaign in some print, electronic and digital media which has been unleashed with reference to a speech that I made in our students' programme yesterday.

"Let me most emphatically clarify that I have not uttered a single word against the (medical etc.) students or their movements. I totally support their movement. Their movement is genuine. I never threatened them, as some people are accusing me of doing. This allegation is completely false."

What did Mamata Banerjee say?

Speaking at her party Trinamool Congress' mega event, Mamata Banerjee said, "I have full support for the protesting junior doctors. I have always been on their side because their agony was justified. They have been on ceasework for a long time now. So I would request them to resume work now. The Supreme Court has also urged them to do so."

Mamata said she does not intend to take any action against the protesters as that would ruin their careers.

The state government anyway has been restrained by the Supreme Court from taking action. The top court too urged the junior doctors to get back to work ensuring no action will be taken against them by the government.

Speaking at her rally in downtown Kolkata, the TMC supremo said, "I haven't taken any action against any protester until now. I don't intend to take any action. But the Supreme Court has empowered the state government to take action if they don't resume work. But I don't want to take any action as that would ruin their future."

Image by Avishek Mitra/IBNS

A passive threat, claims protesting doctors

A member of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Forum said they would not withdraw the agitation unless their demands, including justice for the RG Kar victim, were met.

One agitating doctor, however, said the Chief Minister's remark sounded 'like a passive threat'.

"Mamata Banerjee’s words sound like a passive threat. We have been demanding justice. We still believe our demands haven’t been met. We also want to reiterate that we don’t want any violence and unrest, but we will not get back to work till all our demands are met,” the doctor said after they held a protest rally from Shyambazar to Esplanade on Wednesday.