Student attempts self immolation at ''Desh Bachao'' protest rally

New Delhi, May 27: A youth tried to immolate himself during the ''Dilli Aao Desh Bachao'' protest rally opposing the Government's decision to implement 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in higher educational institutions.

Rishi Gupta, hailing from Bihar and ran a shop in Shahdara, was rushed to the Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Narayan Hospital from the Ramlila Ground where the rally was being held.

A doctor at the hospital said, ''he has been admitted to the hopsital with 40 per cent burn injuries on his abdomen and arms and is now in the burns ward.'' The bid by Gupta, a B.Com drop out, sparked off memories of self immolation by Rajiv Goswami in 1990, to protest against implementation of job and university education reservations for backward castes to the extent of 27 per cent in addition to the existing quotas of 22.5 per cent, as recommended by the Mandal Commission.

Goswami's immolation had set in motion a series of such attempts by students across the country.

He died in February 2004 due to severe health complications which resulted out of his burn injuries.

Earlier this evening, in a show of strength against the Government on OBC reservation, striking doctors and medical students held the ''Dilli Aao Desh Bachao'' protest rally here which was attended by scores of anti-reservation activists from across the country.

Waving placards and raising anti-government, anti-quota slogans 'Abolish Reservation' and 'Down with Reservation', more than 20,000 supporters from several cities, under the aegis of Youth for Equality, converged at the Ramlila Ground here.

The protestors included senior, resident and junior doctors from private and government hospitals from across the capital and several cities, including Meerut, Jaipur, Amritsar, Rohtak, Jamnagar and Patiala, striking medical students, who are on an indefinite hunger strike since May 13, students from several institutions and organisations, including, Jamia Millia Islamia, JNU, IIT, Delhi University, Indraprastha University and schools.

Support poured from people of all walks of life, including lawyers, resident welfare associations, parents, non-government organisations, senior citizens, chartered accountants, representatives from corporate houses, engineers and traders besides backing from the medical fraternity including IMA, DMA, senior doctors, professors and doctors from private hospitals.

Stepping up the offensive against the Government after the first round of talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh failed to resolve 14-day impasse on OBC quota, they were demanding a ''written assurance'' from the government on the issues raised by them and setting up of a judicial committee to review the existing reservation policy.

BJP MP and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, Former CBI chief Joginder Singh and 'Management Guru' and author Shiv Khera also attended the rally and addressed the protestors.

In a highly inspirational speech in his inimitable style, the cricketer-turned-politician asked the Youth for Equality to fight till it gets justice.

''We are not against reservation.... but we are against division of the society on the basis of caste,'' he said.

He appealed to Prime Minister to give justice to the youth who are fighting for the future of the country.

''Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it,'' he added.

Attacking Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh, Mr Sidhu said politicians should not indulge in politics of greed.

''For once they must not indulge in politics of vote bank...

they must work for the upift of the economically backward people,'' he added.

The entire Ramlila Ground erupted in ''Down With Arjun Singh'' slogans as the Mr Sidhu continued his criticism of the Minister.

Coming down heavily on the government Dr Neha Gami from Maulana Azad Medical College and Youth for Equality leader said it was the fight of the entire nation. ''We are not against reservation on economic grounds but we are against reservation on the basis of caste, which will disintegrate the society,'' Dr Gami said.

''Even former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had criticised V P Singh government in the Lok Sabha in 1990 post Mandal Commission for dividing the country on caste lines,'' she added.

Talking about the overwhelming public response against caste-based reservations, she said it was not just doctors' agitation, the government should be able to make this out from today's rally.

Angry students, wearing black arm bands, formed human chains as the rally progressed.

''This rally will give the Government the message that we mean business. We will not be bogged down and we will continue with the agitation,'' Youth for Equality leader Sasmit Sarangi said.

He said it was time that people across the nation took note of the fact that the policies of the government were detrimental to the public at large.

Attacking the Government, he said it should shun vote bank politics.

Disappointed with inclusive talks with the Prime Minister, the students and doctors said they had hoped for a better outcome from the discussion with Dr Singh.

''He is the Prime Minister.... If he does not address the issues raised by us then who will,'' said Bharti Shah a student from Lady Hardinge Medical College, while carrying a placard which read ''Bring Back Merit''.

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

Heavy deployment of police and Rapid Action Force had been done in and around the venue.

Disappointed with the 14-day stalemate, representatives of striking doctors and students this morning held an informal meeting with Minister of State without Portfolio Oscar Fernandes.

They said the meeting also discussed the ''mess and miscommunication'' Union Health Secretary P K Hota had caused after the negotiations with the Prime Minister.

''We conveyed to Mr Fernandes our demand of a written assurance about setting up of a judicial review committee and increase in the number of seats from the Prime Minister. The mess Mr Hota created was also taken up in detail... We will not back down without anything concrete,'' Dr Safal Singh, Maulana Azad Medical College RDA member and Youth for Equality leader, said.

He said last night Mr Hota had gone back to the Prime Minister with their demand of ''written assurance'' and when he returned back he was carrying an unsigned sheet of paper.

''Mr Hota was carrying an unsigned sheet of paper which only stated the UPA-Coordination Committee addresses concerns of all categories of students.... the students need not worry about shrinking educational opportunities as a massive expansion in capacities of higher education system would be undertaken,'' Dr Safal Singh said.

''The Health Secretary brought the PMO press statement to us as the concrete assurance from the Prime Minister. This is outrageous...,'' he added.

Dr Singh said they wanted the Government to finalise its negotiator first and then resume talks with them.

''The Government must first decide who it wants to talk to us....That ways things will be more clear,'' he added.

UNI