Anti-reservation stir spreads to Nashik

Nashik, May 18 (UNI) The nationwide anti-reservation stir hit Nashik in Maharashtra today when more than 200 medical and dental students of four colleges in the city launched an ''indefinite dharna'' in front of the Collector's office here this morning.

The students belonging to NDMBP Medical and Dental Colleges, Panchvati Ayurvedic College and Sanupsangha Ayurvedic College began a peaceful protest at Chhatarpati Shivaji stadium by wearing black arm bands and holding placards with slogans against the proposed increase in reservation for OBCs in institutions of higher learning.

No doctor has, however, joined the stir and hence health services have not been affected by the agitation.

A cross section of agitators, including Amol Patil of the medical college and Vinay More of Panchvati Ayurvedic college, talking to UNI, said they were not opposed to 22.5 per cent reservation already available to members of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes but were against the increase by another 27 per cent for other backward classes (OBCs).

They urged the government to adopt economic criteria for reservation and also increase number of seats in institutions of higher learning to accomodate the rush of aspirants.

Meanwhile, nearly 100 pro-reservationists also held a peaceful protest before the Collectorate yesterday under the aegis of an umbrella organisation called Arakshan Haq Samiti. Activists of various political parties took part in the dharna.

UNI AKS SA SHB HS1543