Friday, May 12 2006 16:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Agitating against the Government's proposal to hike quota in institutions of higher learning, medical students of the capital today took out a major rally, marching towards the Prime Minister's Office.

Over a thousand students, including those from the Delhi University, marched through the busy business district of Connaught Place in Central Delhi towards PMO in South Block, which resulted in major traffic snarls in the area.

Raising slogans such as 'Arjun Singh Hai Hai', the students, who took out the rally under the aegis of 'Youth for Equality', said they wanted a statement from the Prime Minister on the issue.

The students had earlier announced that they would wait till the Assembly election process was over for an assurance from the Government on the issue, failing which they would intensify their agitation.

"We had given the Government time till May 12, 24 hours more after the election process was over, to give us an assurance in the matter. Now, we have no option left but to go on an indefinite strike," said Amitasha, a student of Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC).

The students were already boycotting classes to protest the Government's proposal for introducing reservation for OBCs in elite institutions for higher education and in Central universities.

There was a minor scuffle between the students and the policemen as the agitationists broke through a chain of police who attempted to stop them as they moved through Connaught Place.

However, police barricaded the entry points to Parliament Street.

But the police were having a difficult time controlling the students, who appeared to have come out for the march without any definite route chalked out, moving from one road into another in the area blocking traffic.