KOLKATA, DECEMBER 24, 2004
PTI
The 69 NRI medical students denied entry to the two-state run medical
colleges of West Bengal by the Supreme Court on Friday expressed strong
resentment over the "insensitivity" of a statement purportedly
made by Health Minister Surjya Kanta Mishra that life's purpose was
not defeated if one could not study medicine.
Spokesperson of the students, Soumyadeep Chatterjee told a press meet
here the Health Minister's statement smacked of sheer "irresponsibility"
and was unfortunate.
"Being the Health Minister and a doctor himself, it does not
befit him to make such a comment. If life doesn't end if one cannot
study medicine, why did he study it then?" an agitated Chatterjee
questioned.
Terming the government's proposal of relocating them in colleges of
Russia, China and Nepal as 'illogical', he said these colleges were
not recognised by the Medical Council of India (MCI) and hence were
not acceptable
"We want a reinstation into a medical college recognised by the
MCI in India. Why is the government giving us such absurd proposals?"
he asked.
He also asked why the government was not making an appeal in the Supreme
Court to rehabilitate them.
"Unless we get our dues, we would resort to an intensified agitation
and the state government would be responsible for it," the student,
who is on a hunger strike with most of his peers, said.