“Amra kara? Bohiragoto!” (Who are we? Outsiders!)

This was the most chanted slogan across hospitals in West Bengal during the seven day long doctor’s strike in the state after doctors were attacked at Kolkata’s NRS Medical College and Hospital on 10 June.

In her first reaction to the protests, Chief Minister Banerjee had said that the protesting doctors were ‘outsiders’.

On 17 June, when the chief minister met the agitating doctors at the state secretariat to resolve the impasse, she said: “Amaake galagal dao, kutsha koro, kintu lokkhi chele meye tomra, kaaj shuru kore daao.” (You can abuse me, use bad language, but you are good boys and girls, please start work).

When the 31 junior doctors who were sent as representatives came back to NRS, they were greeted with:

‘Amra kara? Lokkhi chele!” (Who are we? Good boys!)