CM open for negotiations with MARD

Mumbai, Mar 2 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has said the government is ready for negotiations with the striking 2,500 resident doctors from Mumbai, whose strike over assault by patients' relatives entered its fourth day today.

Talking to reporters after a weekly cabinet meeting here this evening, Mr Deshmukh said while the government had accepted the striking doctors' main demand of providing adequate security, they have now added another demand for a rise in their stipend to which the Health Minister had said it could be considered only after three months.

Mr Deshmukh said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was capable of taking action against against the striking doctors.

When asked about the meeting of the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) representatives with Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray late last night, Mr Deshmukh said there was not any need to give political colour to the issue.

The BMC had yesterday invoked Medical Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) against over 2,500 agitating resident doctors, who have been on strike for the last three days.

Maharashtra Medical Education Minister Dilip Valse-Patil yesterday said the government had given an ultimatum to the striking doctors to report on duty by tomorrow noon.

Meanwhile, the government had also kept ready its team of doctors from rural and ESIS hospitals to face any eventuality.

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