BHOPAL: Striking junior doctors have been given an ultimatum that if they failed to resume duty by Wednesday, action will be initiated against them. Junior Doctors Association (JUDA) continued its strike for the second consecutive days in the state boycotting Covid-19 wards seeking hike in stipend by 24 per cent and 6 per cent annual hike.
Sources close to Hamidia Hospital administration have clearly told JUDA that junior doctors were already getting Rs 60,000-Rs 70,000 stipend and government has already accepted their other demands so now with the strike the medicos were unnecessarily blackmailing the government.
The government has now given an ultimatum to striking junior doctors to join their duties by Wednesday or else face action. ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act) has already been imposed in pandemic time and on one has the right to go on strike during these difficult times.
Even as senior doctors have been pressed into services to handle the situation, the junior doctorsà strike has affected emergency services in Hamidia Hospital.
JUDA blackmailing govt: Sarang
"Talks are on with JUDA and hopefully the matter will be solved as most of their demands have already been fulfilled. During the pandemic JUDA is just blackmailing the government. It is not justified to boycott Covid wards." -DME minister Vishwas Sarang said
Govt taking U turn on its promises: Mina
"Government is now taking a U-turn on its promises after giving us assurance of fulfilling our demands. We are not blackmailing the government. Had we blackmailed it, we would have gone on strike at the beginning of the second wave of Covid-19. Government should understand this point and consider our genuine demand." -JUDA president Dr Arvind Mina
