AIIMS strike enters fourth day

New Delhi, Dec 17 (UNI) The indefinite hunger strike by AIIMS resident doctors entered the fourth day today even as the condition of a few fasting doctors started deteriorating.

However, all the 25 fasting doctors, including 15 RDA executive members, are attending duty in the hospital. Services in the premier healthcare institution are not affected by the strike and patients are being attended to.

The doctors, protesting the passage of the OBC reservation bill in the Lok Sabha, are accusing the government of ''betraying'' them and failing to secure the interest of the masses.

''This is vote bank politics and nothing else. After almost 60 years of Independence the country is being divided on caste lines,'' AIIMS RDS member Dr Anil Sharma said.

Dr Sharma, who is also on the hunger strike, said the Government was not considering any demands or recommendations of the committees on the issue.

About the condition of the doctors, he said some were showing signs of weakness.

''If the need arises then we will admit the person in the hospital and there all the doctors are free to break the fast any time they want,'' he asserted.

The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Bill, 2006, provides for 27 per cent quota for OBC students in higher educational institutions maintained and aided by the Union Government.

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

On Thursday night, the 15 executive members immediately went on the hunger strike after the Lower House passed the Bill.

Dr Sharma reiterated that the agitation will be peaceful and non-violent.

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

Students from almost all institutions took to streets in May and September in protest against OBC reservation.

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

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