Nationwide Strike on May 2nd by Medicos on Reservation Issue

A nationwide peaceful strike will be held by the striking medico’s to show their solidarity against the reservation quota

The medical students of the country are expected to organize a nationwide peaceful demonstration against the reservation quota in professional colleges.

The stir is against a government proposal to hike reservation seats started on the 27th April. The mere assurance of that the matter will be considered by after the assembly poll in five states was not enough for the students.

The strike on May 2 will be a ‘‘show of strength’’ and send the message that the agitation will not loose momentum and can go on for an indefinite period.

AIIMS students’ union spokesperson Sasmit Sarangi said: ‘‘The Union HRD Minister thinks that the excuse of election-code-of conduct till May 12 will work and the agitation will fizzle out... But that will not happen,’’

The HRD Minister had met the students on Friday had declined to discuss the issue until after elections. Mr.Arjun Singh had told the representatives that any decision would be taken by the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

He added that the [protest on May 2nd against the proposal to provide 27 per cent reservation to OBCs in Central Government educational institutions, will be held nationwide and will be “Show of strength’’.

‘‘If the government does not even hear us, we will make the agitation even bigger and stronger; we are not giving up on our demands,’’ he added.

Earlier Shewta Sardana of Lady Harding Medical College had said: "Students from Rajasthan, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Karntaka have also joined our agitation and we expect more students to come forward as the days progress”.

On April 5, Arjun Singh had declared that the government was planning to reserve 27 percent of seats for other backward classes (OBCs) in 20 central universities, the Indian Institutes of Management, the Indian Institutes of Technology and other central government funded institutions.

The students want ‘‘concrete assurance’’ from the minister with regards to the proposal.