Medicos intensify stir, AIIMS Faculty on mass CL

New Delhi, May 25: As the indefinite strike by medicos continued on the twelfth day, the AIIMS Faculty Association today went on mass casual leave in support of the agitating doctors and medical students, opposing the Government's decision of implementing 27 per cent OBC reservation.

A nine-member delegation, comprising Resident Doctors, Faculty members and students under aegis of the 'Youth for Equality', will call on President A P J Abdul Kalam later today.

They will urge Dr Kalam to set up a non-political judicial commission to review the existing reservation policy.

Medical services in AIIMS were completely crippled as the Faculty Association, comprising senior Doctors was on protest leave.

However, Emergency services were operational and patients were being attended there.

''We are protesting the Government's move and we are with the students. This stance of the Government is just not fair,'' AIIMS Faculty Association General Secretary K K Handa told UNI.

He said keeping in mind the interest of the patients, all the emergency units were working.

Patients coming to the premier institution bore the brunt of the crisis situation and were being asked to return.

Parallel OPD services in all the hospitals, including AIIMS and Safdarjung hospitals, have already been withdrawn in protest.

Traders in several markets across Delhi had downed shutters as a mark of support to the medicos.

The striking doctors and students had appealed to people from all walks of life to boycott work from 0900 hrs to 1200 hrs as mark of ''civil disobedience''.

''Traders and other associations have come out in our support and many more people are expected to join us,'' AIIMS RDA President and Youth For Equality leader Binod Patra said.

He said the agitation will continue and intensify and they will not be deterred.

The Delhi Medical Association (DMA) is to hold a sit-in and day-long hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in support of the agitating doctors and medical students.

DMA Secretary Girish Tyagi said the government has ignored the demands of the students and this will not be tolerated.

''The issue raised by the students are valid and they should not be ignored.... By the attitude of the Government it seems that it is trying to crush the voice of the striking students and doctors,'' he added.

On Saturday, the medicos have called for a ''Maha Rally'' at Delhi's Ramlila Ground where anti-reservation activists from all across the country are expected.

UNI

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