Agitating junior doctors in Kolkata on Tuesday rejected West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s invitation for talks, and continued their stir outside the state Health Department the entire night. The doctors took exception to the language of the email sent to them, to resolve the impasse over the RG Kar hospital issue.

Further, the doctors conveyed that although “doors remain open” for talks with the state’s highest authorities, they would continue with their agitation until their demands are met. The protesting doctors of state-run healthcare facilities, currently on ‘cease work’ for over a month, to protest the rape and murder of the RG Kar hospital medic, defied the 5 pm deadline set by the Supreme Court to return to work, and conveyed their intentions to stay put before the ‘Swasthya Bhavan’ and kept pressing for their demands.

Also, 51 doctors, who were issued notices by the RG Kar hospital, accusing them of fostering intimidation and disrupting the institution’s democratic atmosphere, have been summoned to appear before an inquiry committee today.