Medical services hit as students, docs continue strike

Jaipur, Aug 25 (UNI) The medical services here have been crippled today due to the ongoing strike of medical students and resident doctors in protest against the 27 percent reservation in higher educational institutes.

The strike and dharna will continue tomorrow as the doctors are demanding action against the police officials who ordered the lathicharge on them yesterday.

The doctors have withdrawn their call for Jaipur bandh tomorrow in the wake of the Centre's decision to postpone the Reservation Bill in the winter session of Parliament, informed Dr Vineet Arora of Equality for Youth Forum.

They also demanded the withdrawal of cases lodged against the doctors. The doctors allege that the police used force to disperse doctors who were protesting peacefully.

At least 20 students were injured when police lathicharged them after a heated debate with protocol officers of Governor who did not let them hand over a memorandum to the Governor Pratibha Patil at the Information Centre, where she had come to attend a function.

Seven other injured medical students have been admitted to the hospital.

Medical students took out a rally from the Sawai Mansingh Hospital today which went through several parts of the city. The doctors shouted slogans against quota hike.

The medical students have been able to garner the support of many sections of society in their protest. The Johri Bazaar Vyapar Mandal, one of the major markets in the old city, showered them with flowers while they passed through the area.

People from many castes including Brahmans, Rajputs and other organisations also participated in the rally.

Rashim Kataria, secretary, Youth for Equality, Jaipur Chapter, said the doctors were on strike in Ajmer and Udaipur. Dr Kataria was admitted to the hospital yesterday after he was injured in the police lathicharge against doctors, who wanted to meet the chief minister and Governor.

Reports from Ajmer say medical students of Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College are on stike while the resident doctors are on mass casual leave today.

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