NEW DELHI, May 14: Medical services across India were hit on Sunday as doctors at state-run hospitals staged a strike against plans to set higher quotas for disadvantaged students at leading universities.

In New Delhi, the strike at five top government hospitals entered its third day on Sunday as protests spread across the country, sometimes leading to violent clashes with police.

At many hospitals appointments were cancelled, but officials said emergencies were being attended.

“Consultants and senior doctors are manning the emergency services,” student leader Anirudh Lochan of the University College Medical Sciences said.

Hundreds of doctors also began an indefinite fast in New Delhi to protest against the government plans to increase places for medical, engineering and management studies for what India calls “economically and socially backward” students to 50 per cent from the current 22.5 per cent.

“We want a rollback of hike in reservation (of places) and a review of existing reservation policy,” Lochan said.

The Indian Medical Association called for medical professionals from private hospitals to join the strike in support of the students.

Students said they were expecting medical colleges from around 30 cities to join the protests on Sunday.

The protesters say places at top colleges should be awarded on merit.

The government says reservations will give millions from the lower strata of India’s ancient caste hierarchy access to good education.—AFP