Talks between PMO, striking medicos 'inconclusive', stir continues

New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) Talks between the government and the striking medicos over the issue of reservation for OBCs in institutes of higher education today remained inconclusive, with the agitators warning the stir will be intensified as their demand of a ''written assurance'' was not being heeded.

As the anti-quota stir entered its 15th day, representatives of the striking students and doctors held a marathon meeting with Minister of State without Portfolio Oscar Fernandes, Union Health Secretary P K Hota and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister T K A Nair at the PMO, but said the talks were ''disappointing'' as they failed to deliver the ''desired results.'' ''The Government is harping on the same stand and it has not budged an inch from its rigid stand.... The talks were inconclusive,'' Youth for Equality (YFE) leader Dr Harsh Kumar said.

He said the Government has asked for more time to discuss the demands and promised to get back to them.

''We had asked for a written assurance as a concrete measure on our demands from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh but that not been given to us. The Government is yet to deliberate on the issue,'' he added.

Dr Kumar said the agitation would continue and the General Body Meeting of the YFE will hold detailed discussion on the outcome of today's meeting.

''Support to us is coming in from all quarters... There is a huge rally in Bangalore today. The agitation will be intensified till the government gives us a written assurance,'' AIIMS RDA President and YFE leader Binod Patra told UNI.

After the meeting, Mr Fernandes said the Government at present was focusing on increasing the number of seats in the general category.

''We have told them that the general category seats in educational institutes will not be reduced... Not a single student will be affected,'' he added.

He said the students have been assured that the OBC reservation would be introduced from the next academic year.

Mr Fernandes was due to meet Prime Minister this evening to intimate him of today's discussions.

The government has also directed the nine medical colleges, including AIIMS, PGI (Chandigarh) and JIPMER (Pondicherry), to frame a detailed plan by June 15 to increase the number of seats.

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