Doctors strike continues in Rajasthan, 65 held

Jaipur: As many as 65 doctors have been arrested in the state till this evening under the Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenance Act (RESMA) even as strike of in-service doctors continued for the second day.

The doctors went on strike yesterday when police arrested few of them under the act which was invoked on Thursday on doctors' warning of a strike from December 18.

"We have arrested more than 65 persons under RESMA in two days," Additional Director General (Law and order) NRK Reddy said.

Many of the in-service doctors, who are on strike, have gone underground and health services have allegedly been hit.

"We were forced to go on strike due to the adamant attitude of the government. We cannot work in this atmosphere. Police is looking for doctors.. We are doctors not terrorists,? Dr Durgashankar Saini, general secretary of All Rajasthan in-service government doctors' association said.

Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot said the doctors' strike was unfortunate and the government should look into the demands of doctors.

In Sikar also, police arrested several doctors.

Patients kept waiting for doctors at the government hospital but most of the doctors remained underground and patients allegedly suffered.