IMA splits, IATO seeks President's intervention in quota issue

New Delhi, May 23 (UNI) The indefinite strike on the controversial OBC reservation continued for the tenth day today with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) splitting as pro-reservationists formed a parallel Indian National Medical Association (INMA).

The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) sought the President's intervention to break the impasse.

The INMA, comprising OBC, SC/ST IMA members, alleged that the Indian Medical Association with the tacit backing of a political party were ''managing'' the medical strike for political mileage.

The INMA alleged that the IMA had been ''hijacked'' by upper caste people and before pledging support to the anti-reservation agitation they had not sought the opinion of the backward class members.

Medical services in Delhi's five premier hospitals continued to be paralysed due to the strike, as the talks between the Government and the medicos remained inconclusive.

Heavy deployment of police and Rapid Action Force has been done in and around AIIMS where the medical students started the indefinite hunger strike on May 13.

IATO president Subash Goyal warned the government that medical tourism, that was now growing at the rate of 30 per cent and slated to emerge as a two-million dollar industry in the next four to five years, would be severely affected if it encouraged quota system in medical institutes.

The battle has also achieved a hi-tech dimension with the electronic turf being opened.

A misleading SMS, saying that a fasting AIIMS student has died and the media is not covering the ''event'', is in circulation across the country from the past few days.

However, 'Youth for Equality', which is spearheading the agitation, has disowned the message, saying it has not originated from any of its members.

''The people who have floated the SMS are trying to provoke us to do something in the moment of passion so that the government can get an excuse to break up the agitation,'' Dr Lochan said.

As many as 125 students are now on an indefinite hunger strike at AIIMS which started on May 13.

Talks between the Government and the students have failed to yield any results, protracting the deadlock over the issue.

Meanwhile, agitation continued in other parts of the country as well.

Large numbers of resident doctors, medical students, senior citizens, engineers, lawyers, politicians, community leaders, teachers, children and even physically challenged participated in the rally and raised slogans organised by Youth for Equality in Jaipur.

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