'Will Take 10k People': TMC's Humayun Kabir Provokes To 'Gherao' Junior Doctors, Faces BJP's Outrage

Trinamool Congress leader Humayun Kabir has sparked controversy by threatening to mobilise 10,000 people to ‘gherao’ the protesting junior doctors of Murshidabad Medical College.

Kabir, the TMC’s Bharatpur MLA in Murshidabad district, made these remarks on Sunday while expressing his dissatisfaction with what he described as the “attitude of some junior doctors” at the Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital in Baharampur, West Bengal.

He accused the junior doctors of protesting in “air-conditioned rooms” while the masses suffers outside.

“I have come to know that an FIR has been lodged against me for my previous comments against junior doctors who were on cease work earlier this month. I am not scared. Let them take out a rally of 1,000 people. If I am sent to jail for my comments, once I am released I will take 10,000 people to gherao the junior doctors,” he stated.

“Are these people fit to be called doctors?! It will take me two minutes to make them return to their workplace,” he said.

Kabir made the comments in the backdrop of a proposed “cease work” by junior doctors starting September 30 afternoon, which aims to give authorities time to respond effectively to their demands for enhanced safety in hospitals and police action to thwart attackers.

‘Repeat offender’

In response to Kabir’s comments, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla strongly criticised him on Monday, calling him a repeat offender and taking aim at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

“Yet another TMC leader has threatened protesting doctors, and this time it’s repeat offender Humayun Kabir,” Poonawalla stated.

He further questioned, “Is this the language an MLA should use? No action has been taken because West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee does not want ‘justice for the daughter,’ she wants to ‘erase evidence’ and “hide the truth.”

Senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh also weighed in on Kabir’s remarks, stating that the irresponsible statements made by Trinamool leaders are aggravating the situation.

“The situation has come to such pass that the entire system is on the verge of collapse, patients’ deaths are protested by their aggrieved kin who blame poor healthcare facilities while junior doctors are feeling insecure in hospitals. They are on the streets for safety,” he told reporters on Sunday.

(With inputs from agencies)