K'taka medicos, junior docs respond to IMA's protest call

Bangalore, May 25 (UNI) Thousands of medicos, junior doctors and interns across Karnataka today boycotted work in response to the nationwide ''civil disobedience'' protest call given by the Indian Medical Association against the 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in institutes of higher education.

In the city, hundreds of medicos and junior doctors boycotted work and staged a dharna demanding the Centre to withdraw its move immediately.

Outpatient services at the Lady Bowring, Victoria, Minto and Vani Vilas hospitals were severely hit due to the strike. The agitators also closed down the Operation theatres. However, emergency services were not affected.

Terming the Union Government's move as '''arbitrary'' and ''unethical,'' Junior Doctors Association President Venugopal said students and doctors sat on a day-long dharna in various parts of the state, in support of the call given by IMA.

The agitators went around the government hospitals shouting slogans against the Centre and Union Human Resources Minister Arjun Singh.

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