In response to the government’s unwillingness to set up a non-political expert committee to examine the existing reservation policy, doctors have decided to remain off work, despite being served termination letters.The Group of Ministers (GoM) appointed by the Centre to formulate a solution to the quota quagmire, on their part submitted a report to Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh on Saturday.
Favouring the implementation of the reservation policy “as soon as possible” the GoM led by Pranab Mukherjee has proposed increasing the number of seats and institutions.
Meanwhile the anti-quota stir was intensified with thousands from a cross section of society joining the ‘Dilli Chalo march’ organised by the Youth for Equality at Maulana Azad Medical College that concluded at Parliament Street with a signature campaign.
The peaceful march that included activists from neighbouring states, including Punjab, also saw participation from students from JNU, DU, Jamia Milia Islamia, medical students, resident doctors from all hospitals, IIT, RWAs, Chartered Accountants, lawyers, IT executives and school students.
BJP MP Navjot Singh Siddhu and motivation guru Shiv Khera were among the protestors lending their support to the cause. Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj also visited the medicos on the seventh day of their hunger strike.
Alongside the anti quota protests, the pro reservation movement has begun gaining ground. While former Prime Minister, Mr V.P. Singh today called for doubling the medical seats, hundreds of students demanding the implementation of the reservation policy are gearing up to take to the streets.
Late last night a group of pro-reservationsits clashed with the members of the Youth for Equality in the JNU campus.
Under the banner of Medicos Forum for Equal Opportunity some doctors have claimed that they will stage “lunch hour demonstration everyday” to press for reservation.
