Friday, December 24 2004 17:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: The 69 NRI medical students denied entry to the two-State run medical colleges of West Bengal by the Supreme Court today (Dec 24, 2004) expressed strong resentment over the 'insensitivity' of a statement purportedly made by Health Minister Surya Kanta Mishra that life's purpose was not defeated if one could not study medicine.

Spokesperson of the students, Soumyadeep Chatterjee told a press meet in Kolkata that the Health Minister's statement smacked of sheer 'irresponsibility' and was unfortunate.

"Being the Health Minister and a doctor himself, it does not befit him to make such a comment. If life doesn't end if one cannot study medicine, why did he study it then?" an agitated Chatterjee questioned.

Terming the Government's proposal of relocating them in colleges of Russia, China and Nepal as 'illogical', he said these colleges were not recognised by the Medical Council of India (MCI) and hence were not acceptable.

"We want a reinstation into a medical college recognised by the MCI in India. Why is the Government giving us such absurd proposals?" he asked.

He also asked why the Government was not making an appeal in the Supreme Court to rehabilitate them.

"Unless we get our dues, we would resort to an intensified agitation and the State Government would be responsible for it," the student, who is on a hunger strike with most of his peers, said.