The Hindu : National : IMA calls for strike

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 13, 2006

National

National

IMA calls for strike

Staff Reporter

Says that HRD Minister Arjun Singh has not kept his word

NEW DELHI: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Friday gave a call to all hospitals, medical colleges and private practitioners in the capital to observe a daylong strike on Monday in support of medical students agitating against the Government's proposed move to reserve 27 per cent seats in Central universities and institutes of higher learning for the Other Backward Classes (OBC). Emergency services have been excluded.

On Friday, the IMA wrote to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Delhi Police Commissioner K.K. Paul, asking them "to ensure that the protesting medical students who were detained were released immediately and unconditionally."

At a press conference here, IMA national president Sanjiv Malik said Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh had promised to initiate a national debate. But he had not kept his word. "The medical community and all doctor associations have extended their support to the students."

Back on the streets

Hundreds of medical students were back on the capital's streets on Friday protesting against the reservation move.

Raising the banner, "Youth for Equality," the students from five premier medical colleges — All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, Maulana Azad Medical College, Lady Hardinge Medical College, University College of Medical Sciences and Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College — marched from Lady Hardinge College to India Gate. They shouted slogans against Mr. Arjun Singh during the march to the Prime Minister's Office.

Junior doctors and senior residents of various hospitals here went on a flash strike in support of the students.

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