New Delhi, May 18
With a late night meeting between the agitating students and Union Minister Oscar Fernandes remaining “inconclusive”, the government’s attempt to persuade medicos to call off their stir came a cropper, as the students decided to continue their indefinite strike.
Not content with Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s assurance that the number of General Category seats in higher education institutions would remain unchanged, students are pressing for the “total rollback” of the proposed reservation for the OBCs.
“We continue to stand by our demand for scrapping the reservation and setting up of an independent judicial commission to study the existing reservation policy which, according to us, is flawed,” said Abhimanyu, a member of the Youth for Equality.
A delegation of students which met Pranab Mukherjee, Oscar Fernandes and Anbumani Ramadoss on Thursday said, “what they put forth on the negotiating table is not acceptable to us”.
Following a late night meeting with the students, Mr Oscar Fernandes said, “the meeting was inconclusive, but whatever they put forth will be conveyed to Mr Mukherjee”.
The students on their part said “this meeting is a positive step and we are happy that the government has at least heard us”.
Earlier, Mr Mukherjee had tried to placate the students by putting forth that if the quotas were implemented, the government would increase the number of seats, for the OBCs, leaving the General Category seats unaltered. An option that failed to pacify students, who assert that their resolve remains unfettered.
“In AIIMS alone, 94 students have collapsed in 96 hours…yet there is no one wanting to back out. We have unfailing support even from seniors as well as resident doctors,” said members of the Youth for Equality.
Agitating students, who were joined by private practitioners and resident doctors in their indefinite hunger strike that entered the fifth day today, are distressed by the government’s proposal of increasing seats for the OBCs.
“There has been a shortage of doctors in the country for a long time, but no efforts were made to increase the number of seats. Now when they want to accommodate the OBC students, the government is ready to increase the intake. Does it mean that the
government will have the infrastructure only when it wants to implement reservation,” questioned Sasmit Sarangi of the Youth for Equality.Regretting the inconvenience being caused to patients, he said “we are not going back to work, but we are holding parallel OPDs, in AIIMS alone over 1,000 patients are being examined at these OPDs”.
Seeking “concrete assurances”, these students also met senior BJP leader L.K. Advani this morning and submitted a memorandum listing their demands.
Meanwhile, doctors who were issued notices yesterday to return to work within 24 hours remain adamant on striking work. Sources said no action is being taken yet against the doctors whose 24-hour deadline is over.
Sources said “some hospitals are yet to issue notices and the government will probably take action against all striking doctors simultaneously”.
Concerned by the growing unrest amongst students, the Prime Minister will start the process of consultations with political parties from Monday. Senior leaders, Sharad Pawar, Oscar Fernandes and Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss have also been added to the Group of Ministers, constituted to study the reservation policy.
