Wednesday, May 17 2006 11:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Protesting medical students today(May17, 2006) began a door-to-door campaign seeking public support to broaden their anti-quota agitation while the indefinite hunger strike by students of five premier medical colleges in the national capital entered the fourth day.

"Hundreds of medical students under the banner of 'Youth for Equality' will move around in residential areas and distribute pamphlets to create awareness among the public about their agitation and to seek support," the students said.

The decision to broaden the agitation was taken after the Government showed scant regard to the sentiments of the students, who have been protesting the proposed quota-hike for OBC's in elite educational institutions.

The students had yesterday appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to set up a non-political judicial committee to review the existing reservation policy and sought an audience with him to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, the indefinite hunger strike by around 150 students of five premier medical colleges of the capital at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) entered the fourth day.

Senior doctors of AIIMS have also come out in support of the striking resident doctors and medical students and decided to observe a 'black day' tomorrow, they said.

However, the agitation suffered a minor setback last night when resident doctors of the AIIMS decided to resume duties after talks with hospital authorities.