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AIIMS doctors on hunger strike against quota bill
The RDA calls for a general body meeting on Friday evening to discuss the future course of action.
A group of resident doctors of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) began an indefinite hunger strike on Thursday evening after the Lok Sabha passed a bill reserving 27 percent seats for other backward classes (OBC) in higher educational institutions.
There will, however, be no disruption of the institute's operations.
"Fifteen doctors are on hunger strike. They are members of the executive body of the AIIMS resident doctors association," said Kumar Harsh, president of the Resident Doctors Association (RDA).
"We called a meeting in the evening and unanimously took the decision for a hunger strike. All the doctors will continue to work and medical services would not be disrupted. We do not want patients to suffer because of the hunger strike," he added.
The RDA has 1,200 doctors as its members.
"We have also contacted other hospitals in Delhi and elsewhere in the country to inform them about our decision. If anyone wants to take part in the hunger strike they are welcome," Harsh added.
The RDA has called for a general body meeting on Friday evening to discuss the future course of action, he said.
Doctors in the Capital's government-run hospitals had gone on a strike earlier this year in protest against the Central Education Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Bill, 2006.
