The ongoing strike by junior doctors in Kolkata over the city’s recent high-profile rape case shows no signs of abating. Following their initial meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the protesting doctors have refused to return to work, insisting on a second round of discussions.

According to a statement from the doctors, they will not end their stop-work strike until the state administration agrees with their demands. Following a general body meeting to determine the next course of action, CM Mamata Banerjee declared that her government has complied with "99%" of the demands made by junior doctors. She also asked them to return to work, pointing out the burden on the state's healthcare system.

The team agreed to write Chief Secretary Manoj Pant another email requesting a meeting with the Chief Minister to discuss additional requests. The doctors had sought the dismissal of State Health Secretary NS Nigam along with the removal of former top cop Vineet Goyal from Kolkata. Doctors asserted that the chief minister had promised them Nigam would be fired on Monday.

The doctors stated that they wished to talk about the recently announced safety and security protocols for doctors working in hospitals. They also seek an explanation of how the ₹100 crore that the state has agreed to spend on strengthening doctors' safety in state-run hospitals will be used.

The doctors are now seeking a second meeting with Mamata Banerjee to press for more specific commitments on hospital security. They have requested that this meeting include senior officials from the police department and the health ministry to ensure that their concerns are addressed at all levels.

Public opinion on the strike remains divided. While many have expressed solidarity with the doctors' cause, the disruption to healthcare services has drawn criticism, particularly from patients who have been forced to delay treatments.

The West Bengal government has so far refrained from taking any harsh measures against the strikers, with sources indicating that they are keen to avoid escalating the situation further. However, the pressure is mounting as public frustration grows.