DYFI activists detained while marching to district minister’s office

Mangaluru: Members of the DYFI and like-minded organisations held a protest demanding the cancellation of the agreement allowing private medical colleges to provide services in govt hospitals and urging the establishment of a govt medical college in Dakshina Kannada at the earliest. The protest march commenced from the Wenlock District Hospital premises to the office of Dakshina Kannada district minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday. However, the protesters were detained by police.Addressing the protest, DYFI Dakshina Kannada district president BK Imthiyaz said that the demands made by the organisation for several years were ignored by the Congress govt. Instead of strengthening govt hospitals, the health department has surrendered to the profit of private hospitals. "The opposition party BJP has also remained silent on this issue. Both Congress and BJP in the district seem to have a similar inclination towards the profit of private hospitals. The movement will continue until the demands put forth by DYFI are met," he said.DYFI Dakshina Kannada district secretary Santhosh Bajal said that the number of people suffering from heart disease and cancer in govt hospitals in the district has increased a hundredfold in just one year. Despite the demand for Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology and Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research branches in Mangaluru, the minister has ignored the health rights of the district's people. DYFI will not back out from the struggle to strengthen govt hospitals, even if permission for protests is denied. If health minister Gundu Rao cannot ensure the health rights of the people, he should resign and step down, said Bajal. Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations (FIRA) president Narendra Nayak flagged off the march. Before reaching the office of the district minister, police detained DYFI activists.
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