Protest Over Delay In NEET Counselling, Doctors Calls For Shutdown

NEW DELHI: The resident doctors have boycotted their routine work as a protest against the delay in the process of allotments of colleges after NEET-PG exams.

Further, the doctors alleged that they were wildly dragged, trashed and arrested by the Delhi police during the agitation.

Meanwhile, during the protest on Monday afternoon, the Chief of the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association along with 50 doctors were arrested by the police officials near ITO, Delhi.

Notably, the massive protest led by the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association has been going on for many days in view of the delay in the counselling process of NEET (The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) postgraduate medical exams because of a number of cases in the Supreme Court over seat reservations for the (Economical Weaker Section) EWS category.

These delay in the process of counselling has resulted in the staggering situation of more than 50, 000 medical aspirants who were waiting to get admission after NEET 2021.

The General Secretary of Resident Doctors' Association of Safdarjung Hospital, Anuj Agarwal said on the incident that no respect is left for the covid warriors as the brutal attack on doctors by the Delhi police made the doctors shocked and in disbelief. He stated that both male and female doctors were dragged to the road, bitten which resulted in severe injuries.

The Central district DC of police, Rohit Meena also claimed that even the police personnel got injured throughout the protest led by resident doctors. He alleged that the doctors came for their protest and stops the movements of vehicles in the road and on trying to stop them they continued their marching towards the Supreme Court. The police attempted to stop many times through discussion the DC said.

According to sources 12 protestors were arrested by the Delhi Police but released later as mentioned by police. During their marching towards the home of Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday evening, more than 2500 resident doctors were detained at the police station of Sarojini Nagar.

After such brutal police action against the protestors, the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association decided for a complete shutdown down all the medical services and healthcare organizations. In the protest the doctors expected the consultants and seniors to have their involvement and take part.

The vice-president of the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association, Dr Sunil Duchania stated that the violence in the protest has resulted in unity as it brought together doctors across the country as earlier some were involved with works in hospitals but now all the medical services will be entirely closed.

The day is regarded as Black Day for the medical fraternity by the association. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences Resident Doctors Association offers their support to the protest as in a statement it has called for a shutdown of medical services and healthcare institutions across the country completely from Wednesday 29 December.

Earlier on 24 December, IMA (Indian Medical Association) wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in view of resolving the crisis related to NEET postgraduate counselling and requested to increase in manpower to get ready to face the third COVID wave.

Also read: This is what India needs to do to tackle new variants: Krishna Reddy Nallamalla

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