Striking RD doctors disappointed with Govt response

New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) Terming as ''disappointing'' the government's promise to evolve a higher education reservation 'mechanism', striking resident doctors today said the proposal was not acceptable to them and again appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to set up a non-political committee to review the reservation policy.

About 1,500 agitating resident and junior doctors, medical students and pupils from other institutions, under the banner of 'Youth for Equality', are holding a candlelight march at AIIMS and Safdarjung hospital here tonight.

''We are not against the backward classes or their uplift. We are seeking a more merit oriented approach to higher education. The agitation will continue,'' Dr Neha Gami, a Resident Doctor with Maulana Azad Medical College, told a news conference here.

She said the striking doctors and students, on an indefinite hunger strike since Sunday, will not dilute their stand on the 22.5 per cent reservation and will continue with the agitation.

Seeking an audience with the Prime Minister, they demanded a non political-judicial committee to be set up to review the reservation policy.

''We want to put across our views to the Prime Minister. All we want at the moment is an appointment with Dr Singh,'' Dr Gami added.

About the Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh's response, Dr Gami said it is clear he is not sensitive towards the demands of the students.

''So far we have not even received any invite to talks with the Government,'' she added.

Dr Gami, on behalf of ''Youth for Equality'' thanked all people for supporting the movement.

Yesterday, after an hour-long meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, Defence Minister Pranab Kumar Mukherjee and Finance Minister P Chidambaram announced that government will ensure a higher education reservation 'mechanism' to satisfy all concerned.

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