New Delhi, July 15: ‘The condition is critical,’ one has to say almost doctor-like, as the ongoing hunger strike of medicos seeking a hike in their stipend intensified further, and as many as 12 students fainted today and were admitted to hospitals.
According to reports reaching here, students who are on fast protest were admitted to hospitals in various parts of the State, even as the government continued with its stand that the medicos should drop their protest and come forward for talks.
The condition of two out of the 12 students who swooned —— Karthik of Tirunelveli and Piyush of Chennai —— was said to be serious and they were getting treatment at the intensive care unit.
Meanwhile, a statement from the striking medicos denied a reported claim by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi that they were instigated by political forces. ‘We have no political connections. It is not fair on the part of the government to ask us to drop the protest to consider our demand. We are neither against the government nor the Chief Minister. All that we want is our reasonable demands should be fulfilled,’ it said.
The strike by medicos intensified further after their talks with the State government failed. Following this, House Surgeons and non-service Post Graduate Assistants decided to continue their indefinite fast till their demand for enhanced stipend was conceded.
Hours after Chief Minister Karunanidhi invited the striking students for talks after calling off their stir, representatives of Tamilnadu Non-service Medical and Dental PGs and CRRIs Association held talks with Health Secretary V Subburaj, but failed to break the impasse.
‘As the government refused to indicate the possible hike in the stipend and laid a pre-condition that we should call off all our agitations for talks, we have decided to continue the hunger strike,’ Dr V Sivaparakasan, organising secretary, said.
He said they told Subburaj they were ready to call off the strike provided the government indicated the possible hike in stipend. But the government said no talks with the Chief Minister were possible unless the strike and all other modes of agitation were called off. ‘This was not agreeable to us and we have decided to continue the fast,’ Dr Sivaparakasam said.
–Agencies