New Delhi, May 24
The Union Government's decision to implement the proposed 27 per cent quota for OBCs in higher educational institutions from June 2007 has had a catalysing effect on the ongoing anti-quota protest.
Incensed by the government's move, medicos, who have been on a relay fast for the past 11 days, have joined forces with traders, transporters and general public to call for a complete Delhi bandh between 10 am and 12 noon tomorrow.
Classifying their protest as "civil disobedience" Dr Lokesh of the Youth for Equality said, "We have been assured of complete support by the traders' bodies who will down their shutters during the bandh hours tomorrow. The general public is also with us. We are not going to accept the government's move of forcing down the reservation for OBCs".
Undeterred by the government's refusal to concede to their demand for a review of the existing reservation policy, the students claim that the "latest hurdle, the announcement made by the government" has not shaken their resolve.
"We are not changing our stand…it is the government that can change," said the members of the Youth for Equality, pointing out that "the ultimate power of the vote still rests with them".
The protesting doctors today stalled the government's move to appoint resident doctors on ad hoc basis. "We
managed to dissuade applicants from walking in for interviews and some senior doctors also refused to be part of the interview panels as experts. The interviews for now have been postponed in many colleges, including Safdurjung," said Ritin Mohindra.
The Indian Medical Association working committee has decided to hold nationwide protests tomorrow to be organised at the state-level of the IMA branches in the form of strike, rallies, dharnas and black day.
"Trade unions all over Delhi will be observing a 'civil disobedience' in the first half of the day tomorrow as a mark of protest.
The IMA has also called for a complete nationwide medical bandh tomorrow, which is likely to be joined by para medical staff as well.
