Striking medicos on Sunday held meetings with Oscar Fernandes, Union health secretary PK Hota and principal secretary to the PM TKA Nair at the PMO.
NEW DELHI: The deadlock over the OBC reservation continued on the 15th day on Sunday as yet another round of negotiations between the striking medicos and the government remained inconclusive.
Representatives of the striking students and doctors on Sunday morning held a marathon meeting with minister of state without portfolio Oscar Fernandes, Union health secretary P K Hota and principal secretary to the Prime Minister T K A Nair at the PMO.
The talks failed to deliver the "desired results", the students and doctors said.
"The government is harping on the same stand and it has not budged an inch from its rigid stand.... The talks are inconclusive," Youth for Equality leader Dr Harsh Kumar said.
He said the government has asked for more time to discuss the demands and promised to get back to them.
"We had asked for a written assurance as a concrete measure on our demands from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh but that not been given to us. The government is yet to deliberate on the issue," he added.
Dr Kumar said the agitation was continuing and the general body meeting of the Youth for Equality will hold detailed discussion on the out come of Sunday's meeting.
The striking medicos again submitted a charter of demands to the Prime Minister, which comprised setting up of a non-political judicial committee to review the existing reservation policy, number of general category seats not to be disturbed a white paper on reservation, exclusion of "OBC creamy layer from reservation", quota for economically backward and no action against the striking doctors and students.
"It is very disappointing to know that so far over issues have not been discussed with the Prime Minister.... How can the Government ignore the demands of the students?," he added.
The Youth for Equality leader said a "written assurance" was a must as it would be the only way of making the Government accountable.
"What if the government decides to change its stance.... the written word is the only way of making it accountable," he noted.
AIIMS RDA President and Youth for Equality leader Binod Patra said striking medico were disappointed by the turn of events.
"We were hopeful of a result but as of now the strike continues," he added.
On May 26, the Prime Minister held his first meeting with the striking doctors but the talks had failed.
Despite the striking medicos describing the meeting as "good and positive", they decided to continue with the strike.
Dr Singh had assured them that the UPA Coordination Committee's reservation roadmap addressed concerns of all the sections of students and they need not worry about shrinking educational opportunities.
The Prime Minister told the 10-member delegation of the students and doctors that he foresaw a massive expansion in capacities of higher education system.
He said the technical experts groups being set up under the Oversight Committee would examine ways and means of expanding the capacities.
"The government is committed to the expansion and they could give specific suggestions to these committees," he added.
The UPA-Left Coordination meeting on May 23, presided over by the Prime Minister, decided to implement in letter and spirit the 93rd Constitutional Amendment enabling 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in higher educational institutions.
An Oversight Committee will be constituted to draw up a time bound roadmap for implementing the decisions and that the Committee would submit a comprehensive report by August 31, 2006.
In a show of strength against the Government on OBC reservation, on Saturday the striking doctors and medical students held the "Dilli Aao Desh Bachao" protest rally here which was attended by more than 20,000 anti-reservation activists from across the country.
Twenty three-year-old Rishi Gupta tried to immolate himself yesterday during the anti-quota rally.
He received 52 per cent burn injuries and is his condition is critical. The Youth for Equality, however, said he was not a part of the organisation and condemned the bid.
The doctors and medical students of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Safdarjang, Guru Tegh Bahadur, Maulana Azad and the Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Narain hospitals are on the strike.
Resident and junior doctors of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, Ram Manohar Lohia, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Ihbas hospitals had also joined the stir.
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