Anti-quota stir intensifies, pvt docs extend support

New Delhi, May 14 (UNI) The anti-reservation movement gained new impetus today with private doctors expressing solidarity with the current protests in the national capital and students holding demonstrations in Bangalore and Orissa.

More than 200 doctors from Delhi's five medical colleges sat on a hunger strike at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) protesting the neo-quota system proposed for institutions of higher learning.

Their four charter demands include immediate roll back of the proposed 27 per cent reservation and setting up of a committee to review the existing 'national reservation policy', the protestors said the Prime Minister should immediately intervene into the matter and strict action be initiated against those responsible for brutal and violent action against doctors.

Calling for a strike tomorrow, Indian Medical Association president Dr Sanjiv Malik said all resident doctors would also be joining the strike called by the Delhi State unit of the IMA.

The Mumbai branch of IMA has also warned that it will be forced to go on a ''medical bandh'' in Mumbai if its demand for resignation or dismissal of Mumbai police Commissioner A N Roy and suspension and arrest of police personnel involved in yesterday's lathi charge, are not met.

In a statement , Dr Sunita Kshirsagar, President of the Mumbai branch of IMA, said the state Government's decision for an inquiry into the lathi charge by the police would be biased and meaningless.

The IMA demanded that the inquiry be conducted by a judicial Magistrate and report be submitted within 48 hours.

She said if the authorities fail to give a positive response, the IMA will have no option but to escalate the agitation and go on a medical bandh.

More UNI Team PR RP BD2006