The Crossbill Team
Dr. Subarna Goswami, a key figure in the doctors' movement against the RG Kar rape-murder incident in Kolkata, has been transferred from his post as Deputy CMOH-2 of East Burdwan to the role of Superintendent at Darjeeling TB Hospital.
The transfer, issued by the state health department on Wednesday night, has sparked allegations of retaliation, with Goswami claiming it to be a demotion.
Speaking to a Bengali news website, Anandabazar.com, Dr. Goswami asserted, "I have been assigned a post lower than my rank, in a facility where there is hardly any work. This is clearly a demotion."
He further alleged that those at the forefront of the RG Kar protest were facing systematic reprisals, including police harassment, false cases, and repeated summons from different authorities.
"Now, I have been transferred. This is what happens when you speak out against corruption," he remarked.
Dr. Goswami, an alumnus of RG Kar Medical College, has a long history of exposing alleged irregularities in the health sector. Since beginning his career in 2004 as a medical officer in Birbhum, he has raised corruption allegations multiple times—first against a block health officer during the Left regime and later against the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government.
According to him, this is the eighth time he has been transferred under the TMC administration.
"We are government employees and must accept transfers, but this is a clear case of targeting. Today, they have sent me to Darjeeling, tomorrow it will be somewhere else," he said.
Copy of the tranfer order.
His activism intensified after the alleged rape and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar Hospital in August last year. He repeatedly took to the streets demanding justice and criticized the government's handling of the case. He has also publicly criticized the Chief Minister and senior officials, which, he believes, led to his transfer.
Reacting to the development, the Joint Platform of Doctors held a protest at the Swasthya Bhavan on Thursday, condemning what they see as a politically motivated decision.
Dr. Goswami accused the government of targeting him while sparing those with political connections.
"There are people working in the same place for 20-25 years because they are close to the ruling party. But I am being sent to a position with no real responsibilities, just as punishment for leading the Abhaya Movement," he told the media on Thrusday.
Despite the alleged pressure tactics, he remains defiant.
"Earlier, they filed false cases, called me to Lalbazar, and used the Medical Council to harass me. Now, they have resorted to a transfer. But they cannot silence our voices or break our spirit. This is not just an attack on me but on the entire medical fraternity and those who stand up against injustice," he declared.
Apart from his role in the RG Kar movement, Dr. Goswami has frequently spoken out against various state government policies and has faced repeated transfers as a result.
This latest move, however, has reignited concerns over government actions against dissenting voices within the medical community.
The transfer, issued by the state health department on Wednesday night, has sparked allegations of retaliation, with Goswami claiming it to be a demotion.
Speaking to a Bengali news website, Anandabazar.com, Dr. Goswami asserted, "I have been assigned a post lower than my rank, in a facility where there is hardly any work. This is clearly a demotion."
He further alleged that those at the forefront of the RG Kar protest were facing systematic reprisals, including police harassment, false cases, and repeated summons from different authorities.
"Now, I have been transferred. This is what happens when you speak out against corruption," he remarked.
Dr. Goswami, an alumnus of RG Kar Medical College, has a long history of exposing alleged irregularities in the health sector. Since beginning his career in 2004 as a medical officer in Birbhum, he has raised corruption allegations multiple times—first against a block health officer during the Left regime and later against the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government.
According to him, this is the eighth time he has been transferred under the TMC administration.
"We are government employees and must accept transfers, but this is a clear case of targeting. Today, they have sent me to Darjeeling, tomorrow it will be somewhere else," he said.
Copy of the tranfer order.His activism intensified after the alleged rape and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar Hospital in August last year. He repeatedly took to the streets demanding justice and criticized the government's handling of the case. He has also publicly criticized the Chief Minister and senior officials, which, he believes, led to his transfer.
Reacting to the development, the Joint Platform of Doctors held a protest at the Swasthya Bhavan on Thursday, condemning what they see as a politically motivated decision.
Dr. Goswami accused the government of targeting him while sparing those with political connections.
"There are people working in the same place for 20-25 years because they are close to the ruling party. But I am being sent to a position with no real responsibilities, just as punishment for leading the Abhaya Movement," he told the media on Thrusday.
Despite the alleged pressure tactics, he remains defiant.
"Earlier, they filed false cases, called me to Lalbazar, and used the Medical Council to harass me. Now, they have resorted to a transfer. But they cannot silence our voices or break our spirit. This is not just an attack on me but on the entire medical fraternity and those who stand up against injustice," he declared.
Apart from his role in the RG Kar movement, Dr. Goswami has frequently spoken out against various state government policies and has faced repeated transfers as a result.
This latest move, however, has reignited concerns over government actions against dissenting voices within the medical community.
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