Monday, May 15, 2006
The move has led to a political row
On Sunday, the demonstrations - which began in Delhi - spread to Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Mumbai (Bombay). Doctors from private hospitals decided to join government doctors for a shut down called by the Indian Medical Association on Monday but emergency health services have been kept out of the strike.
Junior doctors began an indefinite strike on Friday after a protest march by hundreds of medical students in Delhi was disrupted by the police using baton, tear gas shells and water cannons.
The protests were sparked by a plan, announced by the country's education minister, to increase the quota in colleges from 27% to nearly 50%.
The government says it will provide students from poor backgrounds equal opportunities.
But the move has come under fire from the students as well as people in the business and education community.
