Over one million doctors across India participated in protests on Saturday following the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at R.G. Kar Hospital in Kolkata. The strike has paralyzed medical services in hospitals nationwide, with only emergency services remaining operational.
The protests, which began in Kolkata, have spread throughout the country. Demonstrators near Parliament in New Delhi demanded accountability from the Modi government, chanting slogans such as "We want justice" and "No safety, no service."
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has supported the statewide protests and called for a swift investigation and severe punishment for the perpetrators.
Dr. Prabhas Ranjan Tripathi, Additional Medical Superintendent at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, reported that resident doctors in Odisha state are on complete strike, increasing pressure on senior doctors.
The Indian Medical Association President, Dr. R.V. Asokan, stated that women in India are unsafe in any profession, particularly in the medical field.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, police recorded 31,516 rape reports in 2022, a 20% increase from 2021.
