PRESS RELEASE
We received an official appeal from the Prime Minister for “an amicable solution”. We welcome this initiative. Our negotiation team met with the Health Secretary, Mr Hota in the presence of Prof P Venugopal, Director, AIIMS, Dr Salhan, MS, Safdarjung, Dr Chaturvedi, MS RML and Mr Mayank Sharma, AIIMS.
The Health Secretary, on behalf of the government informed us that the issue of setting up a judicial commission was not negotiable and the government is not willing to set up such a commission. We reiterated to the government that this commission forms the core of any solution to the issue and we will not settle for anything less.
We fail to understand why the government is adamant on its stand when it agrees that such a commission is not binding on the Parliament.
The movement started by the Youth for Equality continued to gain momentum today. Support for our cause has been pouring in from all walks of life. More and more educational institutions have come out in support. 215 residents of SGPGI, Lucknow have been on hunger strike since Thursday. PGI Chandigarh doctors have entered the 6th day of their strike and are continuing with their agitation despite eviction notices being served to over 250 doctors.
The claim that students are being forced into anti-reservation protests is totally false. We all feel strongly about the issue and are under no external pressure to join the movement.
Evacuation orders have been served to the Senior Residents/ Senior Demonstrators to vacate their hostels within 24 hours. Our reply is very clear. These threats will not bog us down, but will only strengthen our resolve to fight it out till the end.
On the 22nd of May 2006, the UPA Government completes two years in power. On this day, we appeal to the general public to come out in support of us to observe a black out by switching off all lights for 10 minutes from 8pm. We need your support in our agitation against caste based reservation.