Chhattisgarh: Quota stir heats up caste conflict

Raipur, May 16: The agitation against reservation in higher education institutions is leading to a virtual caste conflict in Chhattisgarh with pro-reservationists coming to the fore to justify the concessions to SC, ST and OBCs.

Division among the junior doctors and medical students was evident from the fact that members of the reserved category stayed away from the medical strike yesterday at the Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar hospital, attached to the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in the state capital.

Few students of the reserved category who had initially joined the strike later resumed duty as a result of which the hospital work remained undisturbed.

''Necessary operations were performed and the hospital work continued as usual,'' Hospital's Assistant Superintendent said.

Though the medical fraternity stood divided, the pro-reservationist Chhattisgarh Rajya Pichhada Varg Sangathan came out in support of reservation for SC, ST and OBCs and burnt National Knowledge Commission Chairman Sam Pitroda, in effigy as he expressed himself against reservation in higher education institutions.

Besides, the Sangathan also declared to publicly honour those junior doctors who kept themselves aloof from the strike.

Sangathan President Sooraj Nirmalkar told sources that the anti-reservationists should ponder over the condition of those sections who are away from the society's mainstream. Expressing surprise that the 'so called' leaders belonging to the reserved category were keeping silence, Mr Nirmalkar said the Sangathan plans to stage demonstrations near their residences to prompt them to come out. Among others, their target include former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, former Union Minister Ramesh Bais, Home Minister Ram Vichar Netam and BJP MP Nand Kumar Sai, he added.

UNI

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