Students, doctors go on 24-hour flash strike

New Delhi, Aug 24 (UNI) Stepping up protests against the Centre's decision to implement OBC quota in elite educational institutes, students of three medical colleges went on a 24-hour flash strike while resident doctors in AIIMS and MAMC proceeded on a day-long mass casual leave this morning.

Students of Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), AIIMS and University College of Medical Sciences have boycotted classes and duties while the resident doctors from AIIMs, MAMC and Hindu Rao Hospital are on mass casual leave in protest against the government's decision.

Essential services, including emergency, are functioning normally. However, services in the OPD are being manned by senior faculty members.

The protesting students and doctors have also planned to gather at India Gate and form a human chain as a mark of protest.

AIIMS RDA president and Youth For Equality leader Binod Patra told UNI, ''The students and doctors will take a pledge never to vote for the Congress.'' ''We regret the inconvinience caused to the patients... but the Government has not left us with any other option,'' AIIMS RDA president and Youth For Equality (YFE) leader Binod Patra told UNI.

''We want to know from this government on what basis is reservation being implemented.... Who will benefit from this quota-- the creamy layer or the economically backward?'' he demanded.

Yesterday, the residents and medical stduents observed a black day in protest against the decision.

The AIIMS RDA President said the Government had taken the decision despite the matter being sub judice.

''We fail to understand why the Government was in such a rush to implement this decision...the matter is still pending in court,'' he added.

The Union Cabinet on Monday night decided to introduce the OBC quota Bill in the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament which ends on August 25.

On Tuesday the doctors and medical students, from all medical colleges in the capital, held a protest rally at Jantar Mantar during which they clashed with police when they were trying to march towards Congress President Sonia Gandhi's 10, Janpath residence to submit a memorandum.

Police used water canon and lobbed teargas shells to stop the protestors, including students from Delhi University, JNU, and IP university from breaking the security cordon.

Agitated over the decision to implement 27 per cent OBC quotas in higher educational institutions, including IITs, AIIMS and IIMS, the protestors sought details from the government on the issue.

The medicos and students were back to the streets in protest over the same issue within almost three months of the 20-day strike in May when Supreme Court had asked them to call off their agitation.

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