AIIMS RDA continue hunger strike against passage to Reservation Bill

New Delhi, Dec 15 (UNI) The indefinite hunger strike by the executive of the AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association, to protest against the passage of the controversial OBC reservation bill in the Lok Sabha, continued today.

Fifteen members of the executive are on the hunger strike which was called immediately after the passage of the Bill yesterday.

However, services in the world renowned healthcare institution were not affected by the strike and patients are being attended to.

The fasting doctors are also attending duty today.

AIIMS Medical Superintendent Dr D K Sharma said operations in all departments, including the OPS and the Emergency which are generally manned by the residents, were continuing as per schedule.

''Work is going on as per schedule and patients are being attended,'' he added.

The angered resident doctors accused the Government of ''betraying'' them and failing to secure the interest of the masses.

''The Government had assured us that the interest of the masses will not be compromised.... But neither recommendations of Veerappa Moilly Committee nor the Parliamentary committee have been considered. Our demands don't figure anywhere,'' RDA member Dr Binod Patra told UNI The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Bill, 2006, provides for 27 per cent quota for OBC students higher educational institutions maintained and aided by the Central Government.

Dr Patra said the Government did not even wait for courts to pronounce their verdict on the contentious issue.

''When the matter is subjudice what was the hurry to rush the bill. We are not against any section of society but only want merit to be given priority,'' he added.

The AIIMS RDA is holding talks with other organisations and colleges for support on the strike. It will hold its General Body Meeting (GBM) this evening to decide the future course of action.

The AIIMS RDA, under the banner of Youth for Equality, had started and spearheaded the anti-quota agitation since May.

The doctors have appealed the public to support the anti-quota agitation.

In the Lok Sabha yesterday, Union Human Resource and Development Minister Arjun Singh said a separate Bill was under preparation to provide reservation in unaided educational institutions also.

''The Bill is consistent with Constitutional provisions and will meet the goal of equity and social justice,'' he added.

The government would take further steps to provide reservation in private institutions of higher learning only after taking all political parties into confidence.

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