Mamata Banerjee's 'a person is not accused until proven' remark draws fact check from Bengal junior doctor

Banerjee made the remark at the government-junior doctors' meeting, which was surprisingly live-streamed though the State had earlier opposed it citing the RG Kar rape-murder case is a "subjudice" matter.

At one point in the meeting, the Chief Minister was heard saying, "A person can't be called accused until it's proven. I am saying this from a legal point. One can lodge a complaint but no evidence has yet been found against the person."

Immediately countering Banerjee, who claims to be an advocate, a female junior doctor says, "We will call a person, who faces complaints, an accused. If the charges are proven, we will call the person guilty. So we don't consider us wrong grammatically and legally in calling the person accused against whom complaints are there."

The video of the Chief Minister's remark and a counter by the doctor went viral on social media where a memefest was triggered.

Junior doctors call off hunger strike

The West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front on Monday called off their indefinite hunger strike after 17 days on request from the parents of the 31-year-old trainee doctor, who was raped and murdered at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August.

The decision was announced by Dr. Debasish Halder, a representative of the junior doctors, after a General Body meeting following a detailed discussion for two hours with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the state secretariat Nabanna.

Halder said: "Since many supporters from the civil society including Abhaya's parents have requested us to withdraw the hunger strike, therefore respecting their demands, we are ending our fast unto death."

"A number of issues have not been discussed in the meeting with the Chief Minister. The body language of the government officials was not positive at all. But at least a promise to hold elections at medical colleges has been made," he added.

Along with the hunger strike which was underway in downtown Kolkata, the junior doctors, who had confronted the Chief Minister on a number of fronts, called off the scheduled complete strike at the health sector on Tuesday.

On their decision to not go on a complete health strike on Tuesday, Dr. Halder said: "We don't think the administration cares about the general people, and taking such a drastic step would trouble the people."

Elaborating on the meeting with the Chief Minister, he said: "We have been asked time and again why we are demanding committees to be established in medical colleges, let us make it clear these are required for the eradication of threat culture and sexual harassment. The Chief Minister has agreed to hold elections in March 2025."

The meeting between the junior doctors and Mamata Banerjee occurred on a 10-point demand made by the medics.

The medics made the demands to make a "threat-free", "reformed" health service in the backdrop of the rape and murder of the 31-year-old trainee doctor, who is referred to as Abhaya or Tilottama.