UNI

Bangalore, May 26: Thousands of medicos, junior doctors and interns across Karnataka on Thursday boycotted work in response to the nationwide ''civil disobedience'' protest call given by the Indian Medical Association against the Centre's move to go ahead with reservation of 27 per cent of seats for OBCs in higher education.

In the city, hundreds of medicos and junior doctors boycotted work and staged a dharna demanding the Centre to withdraw its move immediately.

Outpatient services at the Lady Bowring, Victoria, Minto and Vani Vilas hospitals were severely hit due to the strike. The agitators also closed down the Operation theatres. However, emergency services were not affected.

Terming the Union Government's move as 'arbitrary' and 'unethical', Junior Doctors Association President Venugopal said students and doctors sat on a day-long dharna in various parts of the state, in support of the call given by IMA.

The agitators went around the government hospitals shouting slogans against the Centre and Union Human Resources Minister Arjun Singh.