Hunger strike by AIIMS resident doctors continues

New Delhi, Dec 21: The hunger strike by the resident doctors of AIIMS against the passage to the controversial OBC Reservation Bill in Parliament continued today.

The indefinite hunger strike, which began last Thursday, had turned into a relay protest yesterday as the fasting doctors were showing acute signs of weakness.

Consequently, a batch of 20 AIIMS resident doctors yesterday replaced the 25 doctors, who have been on a hunger strike for over a week.

The decision was taken to ensure that the patient care in the institute was not affected and the services continued smoothly.

The residents have been reporting on duty despite being on the hunger strike, AIIMS RDA president Kumar Harsh said.

He said the agitation against the Bill will continue.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued here today, authorities at the AIIMS reiterated that all the hospital and patient care services like OPDs, clinics, Emergency services, Inpatient care as well as all support services like Laboratory, Blood Bank among others will function normally.

''The so-called resdient doctors on hunger strike are working and discharging their duties normally,''AIIMS spokesperson Shakti Kumar Batra said.

He said any demonstration, dharna or rally within the AIIMS campus by the resident doctors or any other association had been banned.

The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Bill, 2006, which provides 27 per cent quota for OBC students in higher educational institutions maintained and aided by the Union Government, was approved by both Houses of Parliament last week.

UNI