BHU medicos go BJP 'Rath Yatra' way

Varanasi, May 27 (UNI) While the BJP is yet to clarify its stand on the OBC reservation issue, the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) medicos, up in arms against the Centre move, have borrowed the time tested 'Rath Yatra' formula of the saffron party to spread their movement to villages.

Talking to UNI here yesterday, Sir Sunder Lal Hospital (SSU-BHU) Resident Doctors Association president Mahesh Kate said the anti-reservationists under the banner of 'Youth for Equality' will embark on 'Gaon Se Gaon Jansampark Rath Yatra' from May 29 to spread the movement in rural areas here.

Dr Kate further said the Yatra will not only spread anti-quota mantra, but also furnish door-to-door medical care in villages.

''While the cooperation of rural folks in our movement against the 27 per cent OBC reservation in higher education will be a time bound affair, providing medical help to villagers will become a permanent feature of the young dcotors of BHU,'' he added.

Denying the Rath Yatra had anything to do with the BJP, Dr Kate said while the BJP had repeatedly embarked on the trek to further its political agenda, the anti-reservation Yatra was being started at the call of the villagers only.

''The gram pradhans of at least 10 villages met us and assured their support to our movement. They only mooted the idea of the Rath Yatra to link the movement to rural areas,'' Dr Kate claimed.

The Yatra will first traverse in the 10 concerned villages and later spread to other villages of Varanasi and adjoining districts.

The agitating medicos have appealed the entire teaching fraternity of BHU, to go on a 24-hour mass leave on May 29, in support of the anti-reservation movement.

Meanwhile, the indefinite strike by SSU doctors continued for the 12th day, while the relay-hunger strike completed a week, despite two of the agitationg MBBS students falling ill.

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