Private clinics in Rajkot observe ''bandh'' against reservation

Rajkot, May 30: All private clinics and hospitals remained closed here today to express solidarity with striking medical students who are protesting the caste-based quota system in central educational institutions.

The Rajkot chapter of the Indian Medical Association had given the ''bandh'' call in support of the students who have been on strike for the last two weeks.

A massive rally was taken out this morning by the doctors and students which passed through the main streets and reached the collectorate where a memorandum was submitted to the resident deputy collector Mehul Dave. Nearly 700 doctors took part in the rally, IMA Rajkot chapter president Dr Amit Hapani claimed. Earlier, the doctors and the students staged a ''dharna'' at Trikon Bagh before taking out the rally, Dr Hapani said.

Pharmacists in the city also kept their shutters down in support of the ''bandh'' call while medical representatives too stayed away from work today, Dr Hapani claimed while adding that nearly 25 doctors at the civil hospital had gone on mass casual leave today in support of the ''bandh''.

To a query on the IMA's future strategy, Dr Hapani said the future course of action will be decided after consulting the IMA's State and Central bodies.

UNI