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Medicos' demands accepted, says Govt

       New Delhi: The Centre extended a written proposal to the striking doctors in which it has accepted almost the entire demands of the striking doctors against implementation of reservation for OBCs in the premier institutions. Talking to media persons, Union Minister Oscar Fernandes said that the number of the existing seats for the general category students will remain intact.

     The proposed hike in number of seats for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) come into force in June 2007, he added. Speaking further, Fernandes said that the Government has formed an Oversight Committee. The committee, which will be headed by Veerappa Moily will look into the matter of mobilisation of resources so that the general category seats can be maintained as are available at present. However, he said that number of seats would be increased to implement the reservation for the students of the backward communities. On another demand of striking doctors, Fernandes said that no action will be taken against the agitating doctors. Faculty and infrastructure would be improved by June 2007, he said.

     Fernandes said that the Government has already sent the draft proposal to the striking medical students, which will be discussed by them at a general body meeting tonight. Once, it has been discussed at the general body meet, they will come back to the Government. The students are demanding a written assurance from the government that general category seats would not reduce. They are also asking for an expert committee to be set up by the Centre on the issue. Medical students and junior doctors in the capital and other places have been protesting the Centre's decision to introduce a 27 per cent quota for OBCs in elite educational institutions.

     Earlier in the day, the representatives of the striking students and doctors had a three- and-half-hour meeting at the South Block with Oscar Fernandes, Union Health Secretary P K Hota and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister T K A Nair at the PMO. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Manish Nathani, Representative of Youth for Equality said, that the government did not give a conclusive statement, it was "talking in different voices and we will continue our strike till our demands are met." However, sources said that the students submitted the list of their demands, but were given no written assurance. "We were asked to meet the Principal Secretary so that the government could give us a proper statement on this issue. We held talks for over two hours, and put forth our viewpoint. We want them to consider our demands," said Nathani. Speaking further he said that it was not an issue against the provision of quota for OBCs rather they wanted in-depth review of the entire reservation procedure "which could yield that whether the benefits of reservation reaches to those who really deserves for it or not."

     Later this evening the Prime Minister was to hold a meeting with his officials on the ongoing protests. However, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, T K A Nair told them that he would convey their demands to the Prime Minister. On his part, Oscar Fernandes has said the 27 per cent quota was here to stay, but what needed to be worked out was how to increase the seats. With the pressure on government having increased after yesterday's immolation bids, the government is desperately trying to control the situation. The students are demanding a written assurance from the government that general category seats would not reduce. They are also asking for an expert committee to be set up by the Centre on the issue.

      On Saturday, the medicos along with numerous supporters from various streams gathered at the Ramlila Ground in Delhi for a rally to protest the proposed reservations for OBCs. A large number of traders, chemists, teachers and representatives of the Indian Medical Association and RWAs joined the "Delhi Aao Desh Bachao" rally organised by the striking medicos. Medical students and junior doctors in the capital and other places have been protesting the Centre's decision to introduce a 27 per cent quota for OBCs in elite educational institutions.

Self-immolation threat by anti-quota activist

      Gwalior: With the student fraternity warning the government of going violent in their protest against the 27 per cent reservation to Other Backward Classes category in government run higher educational institutes, Akhilesh Pandey, a man who set himself on fire during Mandal Commission stir in 1990, has warned of repeating his act. In an effort to support his agitation against the OBC reservation, Pandey is planning to immolate himself for the agitating students' cause. "If required, I will not even hesitate to sacrifice my life on this issue," said Akhilesh Pandey. Akhilesh has criticised Union Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh and accused him of making the reservation issue a political tool to garner more votes. "After 16 years, Arjun Singh has started the concept of reservation system all over again. Arjun Singh is playing vote bank politics. This reservation system is making us struggle once again," said Akhilesh. "To make this protest more effective, we will take out a protest march till Delhi in which we will announce that we will remove this government from power, Gherao Parliament, and never let this Bill to pass," he said. Akhilesh has termed the present move to allocate 27 per cent reservation to OBCs as Mandal-part II, and said it was the reason that had forced medical students to come out on streets and protest against the biased policy.