Friday, May 19 2006 14:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Continuing their anti-reservation protests, striking medicos today (May 19,2006) demanded that the number of seats in higher educational institutions be increased before implementing the proposed OBC quota-hike.

Joining the medicos in their protests, representatives of the AIIMS Faculty Association began a day-long fast without striking work.

"We are supporting the students and doctors and we want the government to listen to them," said Dr K K Handa, General Secretary of Faculty Association.

So far, the medicos had been demanding a total rollback of the proposed OBC quota in elite institutions of higher education. The agitating medicos have decided to continue their strike.

"The decision to continue to strike was taken at a General Body meeting of the students and resident doctors. Negotitaions are on but we will continue to strike," Vice President of AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association, Dr. Subroto Mandal said.

The striking medics had met a group of ministers yesterday who assured them that a mechanism was being worked out by which the number of seats in the general category would not come down with the implementation of the new quota policy.

"It is impossible to increase the number of seats as it also needs infrastructure, doctors, teachers etc," Mandal said adding, "We want an assurance that unless the number of seats are increased with proper infrastructure, there should not be an increase in the quota from the current level."