BJP wants YSR to act on strike call by AP docs

Vijayawada, Dec 16 (UNI) The BJP's Andhra Pradesh unit today asked Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy to intervene and help avoid tommorow's strike called by the Indian Medical Associaton and the A P Nursing Homes Association to protest the incident at the Maternity Hospital in Nayapul in which two doctors were allegedly assaulted on Friday.

The incident occurred even as the junior doctors resumed duty after a strike following attack on their colleagues at Niloufer Hospital by AMIM MLA Afsar Khan and his supporters on December two, seeking his arrest on murder charge.

Speaking to the press here, AP BJP President and Former Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said the State Government should own moral responsibility and ensure such incidents did not recur.

He claimed Dr Reddy was delaying the arrest of AMIM MLA for 'vote bank politics' and advised him to take seriously the doctors' strike called for tomorrow.

To a question, Mr Dattatreya said the party was preparing its cadre across the state for the Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP leader also alleged Dr Reddy had failed to mount pressure on the Centre, the Cotton Corporation of India and Food Corporation of India for increasing to Rs 1,000 the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy, Rs 3,000 for cotton and Rs 1,500 for sugarcane respectively.

The party would take part in 'Chalo Delhi' Programme on December 28, organised by all-party farmers associations, protesting the Centre's anti-farmer policies, Mr Dattatreya added.

He also wanted the state to take all steps to prevent suicides by farmers.

The Former Union Minister also criticised the CPI (M)'s 'double standards' over the Indo-US Nuclear Deal.

UNI