Medicos boycott classes

The strike called by students of five medical colleges in the Capital to protest the government's move to implement quota for other backward classes (OBCs) in top educational institutes of the country is still on, contrary to reports that it has been called off.

“There is some confusion," said Mohammed Arman, representative, University College of Medical Sciences. According to Arman, the strike is very much on. "Hospital duties have been resumed, but we are still boycotting classes. We don’t want to trouble the patients, but will mobilise people. We are also planning a nation-wide strike,” he said.

With colleges from across the country joining in the movement, the protest is expected to gain momentum in the days ahead. “We want merit to be the sole criteria," said Arman.

“Students, when they enter a medical college at the under-graduate level, irrespective of their caste, have the same faculty, the same education. Then why reservation at the PG level?” he asked.

The five medical colleges in Delhi have formed a forum called the 'Youth for Equality Movement.' “They are deflecting attention,” said Abhimanyu Anat, representative, Maulana Azad Medical College. Representative of Lady Hardinge Medical College, Amitasha Sinha, said, "The poll panel’s code of conduct is just an excuse for not addressing the issue.”