Senior doctor Subarna Goswami, who became a key figure in the medical fraternity’s movement against the R.G. Kar rape and murder tragedy in August last year, has been transferred to Darjeeling—and to a lower-ranked post.
Goswami has been transferred to a position one rank lower than his current one. According to a notification from the state Health & Family Welfare Department, Goswami, who is presently the Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH)-II in East Burdwan district, has been reassigned as the Superintendent of Darjeeling TB Hospital.
Reacting to the transfer, Goswami stated that although, as a government servant, he must accept any reassignment, the nature of this transfer clearly suggests a vindictive move.
“My next posting is a rank lower than my current post. Moreover, the hospital where I am being posted in Darjeeling does not have much scope for work. Hardly any patients get admitted there. This is the eighth time I have been transferred under the current Trinamool Congress regime. Out of these eight transfers, five have been at the same rank,” he said.
At the same time, he asserted that this transfer would not deter him from continuing the movement on the RG Kar issue.
“My fight will continue. Not just me, but others who were at the forefront of the R.G. Kar movement are also being targeted. I was questioned by police when the movement was at its peak, but I am not scared,” Goswami said.
Goswami and Kunal Sarkar, two of the state’s most reputed senior doctors, were summoned to the Kolkata Police headquarters last year at the height of the movement and questioned by then City Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal.
Dr. Utpal Banerjee from the Joint Platform of Doctors criticized the transfer, calling it an act of extreme vendetta.
“We believe this transfer is an act of extreme vendetta. The forum strongly condemns it and demands its immediate cancellation,” Banerjee said.
(Inputs from IANS)
