Monday, May 15 2006 11:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The mass indefinite hunger strike by medical students in the capital against proposed quota for OBCs in elite educational institutions entered the second day today even as they received support from the Indian Medical Association, which has called for a day-long closure of health services.

Normal and emergency services were affected in several hospitals in the city as government and private doctors were observing a day-long strike.

Private hospitals have also announced closure of OPD services in support of the strike call given by the IMA and hundreds of patients and their relatives were seen looking for help. However, authorities initiated steps to ensure that essential services were maintained.

At least 150 students of the five premier medical colleges of Delhi and some adjoining colleges, under the 'Youth For Equality' banner, continued their indefinite hunger strike at the premier healthcare institute AIIMS demanding immediate rollback of the controversial proposals and review of the reservation policy.

Doctors from across the capital will hold a demonstration at Rajghat demanding rollback of the proposals and action against police who had baton-charged striking students in Mumbai on Saturday. Medical students would also be joining the protests.

"We demand a total roll back of the proposal to give 27 per cent reservation to OBCs and a review of the present reservation policy," said Amitasha Sinha, a representative of Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC) here.

Sinha said the hunger strike would continue till the Government announces reversal of the reservation proposals, announces a review of the reservation policy and orders stringent action against police officials for the baton charge on protesting students in Mumbai.

"We will continue our hunger strike and will not attend our duties," said Vinod Patro of the AIIMS Resident Doctors Association.

The students of the capital's five medical colleges Lady Hardinge Medical College, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Maulana Azad Medical College, University College of Medical Sciences and Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Rohtak Medical College and Shimla Medical College participated in the protests today.

Some students from Delhi University, Lady Shriram College and Jawaharlal Nehru University also joined them.