Thursday, May 25 2006 11:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Striking medicos remained defiant today (May 25, 2006) despite President A P J Abdul Kalam's appeal to call off their anti-quota agitation and intensified their two-week-long stir by launching a 'civil disobedience' campaign.

The medicos, under the banner of Youth for Equality', will also call on the President later in the day to convey their position on the emotive issue and their decision to continue with the strike.

"We really thank the President for his concern, but it has come a bit too late as the government has already announced its decision to go ahead with the proposal," said Amithasha Sinha, a representative of Youth for Equality.

The agitation by resident doctors and medical students also got a boost as traders in the capital decided to join their movement and threatened to shut shops if the government failed to rollback its quota proposals within 100 hours.

The medicos launched a 'civil disobedience' campaign to enlist the support of RWAs, traders and other sections of the society in their movement against introduction of 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in elite educational institutions.

"This is an attempt to widen our agitation. We are seeking the support of the all sections of the society,"

Safal, a student from MAMC and a representative of Youth for Equality, said here.

Meanwhile, junior doctors of five premier medical colleges, MCD hospitals and other health centres continued their strike for the 14th day and decided to discontinue operating parallel OPDs to give more sting to their agitation.