Medicos call ''Dilli Aao Desh Bachao'' protest rally tomorrow

New Delhi, May 26 (UNI) Stepping up the offensive against the Government on the OBC reservation issue, striking doctors and medical students have called a ''Dilli Aao Desh Bachao'' protest rally here tomorrow which will be attended by anti-reservation activists from across the country.

''We are expecting activists from across the country at the rally here tomorrow and we are hopeful that the turnout will be very good. This agitation will not fizzle out,'' AIIMS RDA President and Youth for Equality leader Binod Patra told UNI.

The rally is scheduled to be held at the Ramlila Ground from 1630 hrs.

He said the rally will be a show of strength and a message to the government that the agitation will not be withdrawn.

''We are severely disappointed with the way the government has ignored our demands...but that will not deter us we will go on,'' he added.

Criticising the Government, Dr Patra said on one hand it was holding negotiations with the medicos while on the other it took a unilateral decision on the proposal.

''They have back-stabbed us.... This is not how a democracy works,'' he added.

The indefinite strike by medicos continued on the 13th day.

The Faculty Association of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (RML) is on a day-long strike today in support of the doctors and medical students.

OPD services in the hospital were affected and only emergency units were fully operational.

''We have joined the strike in support of the medical students and doctors and we are with them all the way. The government cannot deter them,'' a RML Faculty Association spokesperson said.

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.

Since more than 130 of the fasting 180 medical students had taken ill, more students have joined in. As many as 100 students are now on an indefinite hunger strike at AIIMS.

The UPA Left coordination meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on May 23 decided to implement in letter and spirit the 93rd Constitutional Amendment enabling 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in higher educational institutions.

A specific bill will be brought in the Monsoon session of Parliament in this regard.

The doctors and medical students of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Safdarjang, Guru Tegh Bahadur, Maulana Azad and the Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Narain hospitals are on the strike.

Resident and Junior doctors of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, Ram Manohar Lohia, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Ihbas hospitals had also joined the stir.

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