BHU medicos indefinite stir on, traders join anti-reservation cause

Varanasi, May 18 (UNI) Even as the indefinite strike by junior doctors of Sir Sunder Lal Hospital (SSU) in Banaras Hindu University (BHU) against proposed OBC reservation entered its third day today, traders from this holy city came out in support of the medicos on the issue.

Traders of the city led by Mr Santosh Ojha performed the 'Buddhi-Shuddhi Yajna' at the Assi Ghat on the banks of Ganga river this morning against the UPA government's proposed move to give 27 per cent reservation to OBCs in higher education.

''We are performing the Yajna to pray that sanity returns to HRD minister Arjun Singh, the author of the latest reservation weapon meant to divide Hindus and destroy talent in the country,'' Mr Ojha told UNI here.

Meanwhile, the indefinite stir by the junior doctors at the SSU hospital, led to work at the hospital coming to a near total halt.

SSU Resident Doctors Association President Mahesh Kante said as many as 250 patients were administered treatment and consultancy at the parellel but makeshift OPD being run by the junior doctors.

The OPD was shifted from the Institute of Medical Sciences campus to the SSU hospital, outside the main OPD of the hospital, he added.

The agitatting doctors and other students of BHU and other colleges took out a motor cycle procession across the city to mobilise public support for their movement. The medicos later this evening lighted candles in protest at the Assi Ghat.

UNI ARS PA RK2125