Kolkata: The principal of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata, Dr. Sandip Ghosh, resigned on Monday amid widespread protests over the rape and killing of a trainee doctor on campus. He also appealed to the medical students and house staff participating in the rallies to withdraw their demonstrations.
Regarding the alleged rape and murder of the lady home staff member and second-year post-graduate student of the medical college & hospital last week, the house staff and medical students have been demanding Ghosh’s resignation on moral grounds.
As he announced his resignation, Ghosh urged the medical students and house staff who were protesting to stop their rallies, withdraw demonstrations, and let normal operations resume on the hospital grounds.
“My resignation was the desire of the students. In fact, the entire state was demanding my resignation. I hope that the medical students and junior doctors will now resume their normal operations. For the last few days, my family and I have been subjected to various adverse comments. So I decided to resign,” said Ghosh on Monday morning.
He claimed he had been a victim of a political conspiracy drafted by his rival group. “I had never been a part of any kind of political game. As a government servant, I will perform my duty till the end,” Ghosh said.
However, the protesters are adamant about continuing their agitation until their demands are met. According to them, the principal’s mere verbal announcement of his resignation will not suffice; he will have to tender the same in writing.
“The resignation of the principal was just one of our demands, already the Resident Doctors’ Association has released their four-point demand in the matter and we will continue with our agitation and cease work till our demands are fulfilled,” said a protesting house staff of the hospital.
The doctors who were protesting also stated that they continued to think that the victim’s alleged rape and murder was the work of multiple people, not just one person.
Police have arrested a civic volunteer, Sanjay Ray, in connection with the tragedy.
Quoting a few protesting doctors, media reports have reported that they (protesting doctors) suspect the arrest of Sanjay Ray was an attempt to find a scapegoat to mask this gory incident and that there was more to it than meets the eye in this case.
On Sunday, the state health department made a significant announcement, stating that Dr Sanjay Vashisth, the former medical superintendent and vice-principal of the college, would be replaced. This change underscores the ongoing impact of the tragic events.
–IANS
