Wednesday, May 17 2006 18:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Striking medicos today (May 17, 2006) met Union Minister Oscar Fernandes to discuss their ongoing anti-reservation agitation in a bid to find a solution.

After the hour-long meeting, he said it was just a beginning as such issues cannot be resolved in one meeting.

"We heard what they had to say. We will meet again and see if there is any way out," he said.

"The exercise was not at the behest of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh," he said.

The move is seen as an attempt by the Government to end the agitation, which has paralysed medical services in several hospitals in the national capital and other cities.

Medical students and resident doctors, under the banner of 'Youth for Equality, also submitted a three-point memorandum to the minister which included their main demand of total roll back of the proposed extension of reservation by 27 per cent.

They also demanded appointment of a judicial commission to review the existing reservation policy, its achievements, adverse effects, loopholes and drawbacks and a concrete statement by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue.

Asked whether the Government has asked him to negotiate with the striking students and doctors, he said, "Nobody hasasked me to do anything. I got a chance to meet them and I gave them a patient hearing."

He, however, parried a question on wheN he will brief the Prime Minister or HRD Minister Arjun Singh about the demands made by the doctors, and merely said "Spare me, we will find a way out."

"Government is dealing with the situation. The issue has also come up in Parliament. I cannot say anything more on this," the minister told reporters and added that he will meet the students again, possibly tonight itself.

The representatives of 'Youth for Equality', meanwhile, said they are continuing the agitation and would not resume duties unless their demands are accepted by the Government.

"This was not an official meeting, so we cannot say whether it was successful or unsuccessful. We did not get any assurance," Harsh, a representative of Resident Doctors Assocation told reporters.

He alleged that the Government has so far not made any its stand clear on the isuse.

"No specific statement has come so far from the Prime Minister or any other minister. They have been giving confusing statements on this issue," he said.

The resident doctors would continue their agitation at any cost and the threat of imposition of Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) cannot force them to resume work, he said.

"We were well aware of the possible actions before we began the strike. Now we would not go back on our decision," he added.