Talks between the West Bengal government and senior doctors of 10 organizations on Monday failed to end the impasse in the state's healthcare system as young doctors continued their indefinite hunger strike demanding justice for the victim of the August 9 rape and murder at RG Kar Medical in Calcutta demanded college and hospital and reforms in the system.

The hunger strike, which began on October 4, was carried out by seven junior doctors from various hospitals after a fifth striker, Tanaya Panja, was hospitalized in serious condition on Monday evening. Four others were in hospital as of Sunday. Three doctors took her place.

Expressing solidarity with its colleagues in West Bengal, the Junior Doctors' Network of the Indian Medical Association announced that its members will go on a 12-hour hunger strike (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) at all medical colleges and hospitals in the country on Tuesday when the Supreme Court hears the case The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)'s investigation into the death of the Calcutta doctor will be held in the country.

Chief Secretary Manoj Pant described the two-and-a-half-hour meeting with the state's senior doctors as “some progress” and said, “Of the 10 demands made by the junior doctors, the state is implementing seven.” We request them to end the hunger strike and return to work.”

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Dr. Manas Gumta of the Joint Platform of Doctors said: “Convening a meeting without the health minister was a meaningless exercise. The government was unwilling to set deadlines for implementing the demands. It was also unwilling to discuss the three remaining demands, which include removal of Health Minister (NS Nigam).”

These three demands also include the removal of Dr. Sudipta Roy, who is also a Trinamool Congress MP, as the head of the West Bengal Medical Council and the Health Recruitment Board. Another demand is a complete overhaul of the recruitment system.

“We have clearly told the doctors that we cannot set a timetable or discuss the three demands. That is their demand. It is the prerogative of the state government to decide what should be done and at what point in time,” Pant told the media.

As the hunger strike continued at Rani Rashmoni Avenue in the heart of Kolkata, the movement's young leaders took out a procession to Raj Bhawan on Monday afternoon to express their dissatisfaction with the CBI probe.

Pursuant to the Calcutta High Court's August 13 order, the CBI took Sanjay Roy, a volunteer officer of the Calcutta Police, into custody, days after he was arrested by the city police as a prime suspect.

“The CBI has escaped a charge sheet naming Roy as the sole perpetrator, which we refuse to believe. CBI is silent on former director of RG Kar Hospital Dr. Sandip Ghosh, and the former head of Tala police station, although the agency has arrested both of them in the rape and murder case. We are not satisfied with the investigation,” said Debasish Haldar, one of the leaders of the young doctors’ movement.

Governor CV Ananda Bose is resting and cannot hold any discussion, Kinjal Nanda, another face of agitation, said outside the Raj Bhawan. “We just gave him our memorandum and left,” Nanda said.

Referring to the government's meeting with senior doctors, Haldar said, “We don't know what happened because we were not there, but we strongly disagree with the chief secretary's claim that seven demands will be implemented quickly.” This includes the Revising safety precautions in hospitals.”

Prime Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is also in charge of the health and home ministries, previously met the young doctors three times. This was the first time that the government held discussions with organizations representing senior doctors from government and private hospitals.

Doctors and paramedical staff at more than a dozen private hospitals, including Manipal Hospital in Dhakuria, on Monday went on a work stoppage in non-emergency departments, while government doctors at Birbhum District Hospital went on a 48-hour work stoppage in non-emergency departments began.

As the five-day Durga Puja came to an end, the Joint Platform of Doctors urged civil society to join its Droho carnival (uprising) at Rani Rashmoni Avenue on Tuesday.

Fearing that the doctors' carnival might affect the Durga idol carnival on Red Road, an annual event launched by Mamata Banerjee in 2016 to showcase Bengal's heritage, chief secretary Pant called on the doctors at the meeting on Monday not to hold their protest.

“We sent them an email on Sunday and asked them verbally today. We hope they don’t hold their carnival,” Pant told reporters.

As eminent citizens and foreign dignitaries are invited to the state function, the Kolkata Police has started making elaborate security arrangements at Red Road.

“We will hold our carnival as planned. Let the government continue its celebrations,” said Dr. Hiralal Konar, one of the conveners.

“To support our seniors, we will form a human chain from the site of the hunger strike. Let’s see how far it goes,” said Debasish Haldar.

Meanwhile, TMC Lok Sabha member Kalyan Banerjee on Monday made fun of the junior doctors, triggering a row.

“We had heard about fasting until death. This quickly leads to hospitalization. They don't have the courage to go on hunger strikes. They do all this to serve their interests. Let them visit a village and people will show what happens to doctors who escape duty,” Banerjee told the media.

“Does Banerjee mean that we should abandon our colleagues in a critical condition and let them die? We can't do that. He should know that people get sick when they fast. “My colleagues don’t live on cakes and sandwiches,” said Debasish Haldar.