SGPGIMS docs split in two groups over reservation

Lucknow, May 23 (UNI) A group of resident doctors of the prestigious Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) here today formed a pro-reservation group.

While large group of resident doctors had been on strike for the past five days, the pro-reservation group today took out a rally in support of quota for OBCs in government-funded institutions of higher education.

Of the 213 resident doctors at SGPGIMS, 192 are on strike to protest the decision of the Centre to provide reservation to OBCs.

Some post-graduate students too are on strike protesting reservation.

State chief secretary N C Bajpai, meanwhile, said today the Uttar Pradesh government has imposed Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) on the striking medicos. ''We are monitoring the number of doctors still on strike...We will take appropriate action if they fail to rejoin duties.'' On the other hand, PGI resident doctors defied ESMA to continue with the strike paralysing the emergency and OPD services since Friday.

Resident doctors assocation president Amit Goel told UNI here they would continue their strike and any harsh action by the government would not crack their agitation.

SGPGIMS has 120 doctors and it is recalling 45, who are on leave.

The decision indicates the institute administration's apprehensions that the strike may continue.

The agitation by resident doctors has entered cyberspace with the doctors launching a weblog to garner support on the burning issue.

UNI NAB VS AK HT1808