Doctors join MCD strike; Delhi health minister calls urgent meeting

New Delhi: In the wake of strike called by the MCD workers including doctors over nonpayment of their salaries, Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain on Sunday held an emergency meeting at his residence to deal with the crises.

The minister discussed arrangements which were made to clean the city after the strike called by the municipal workers' entered fifty day. He met the North and East MCD Commissioners to discuss the ongoing crisis and prepared a back up support after doctors too joined hands in the strike.

"Today I had a meeting with the senior MCD officials and conveyed our message to the doctors to call off the strike. Those who have not got their salaries should get it at the earliest. It is their right to ask for their salaries because they have to run families. They are not asking for alms," Jain said after the meeting.

While claiming that the strike is being political motivated by councilors and mayors, he said. "The BJP is behind the strike. We have given them more money this year as compared to the last three years. Let them tell us where has the money gone? We have information that many do not want any strike but are being threatened to participate."

On the context of doctors, he said, "We have reached out to the doctors asking them not to go on strike. If they continue to go for strike, then we have a plan in place. We will not allow people to die."

Jain thanked the PWD officials for their commendable job in removing garbage from the city. "If MCD workers disrupt our work, we will be forced to take the help of police," he said.

The strike is likely to affect lakhs of people who are dependent on municipal hospitals across the city.

In most parts of the city garbage were seen piled up across the street causing severe inconvenience for the people.

It was learnt that Jain's call for the crises meeting came after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal supported the demand of protesting MCD employees.

"I support demand of protesting MCD employees that they should get their full salaries. I hope some solution will emerge after Tuesday HC hearing," Kejriwal tweeted on Sunday.

"I am told PWD people and trucks worked whole night to clean up garbage. I would urge all AAP volunteers to help PWD," his tweet reads adding "Keep it up PWD!"

On Saturday, more than 7,000 doctors, 15,000 nurses joined the strike along with the other MCD employees. The medical staff belongs to the hospitals run by the MCDs.

However, critically ill patients will be attended to during this period.

The Municipal Corporation Doctors' Association, Dr RR Gautam, said, "It is unfortunate that the government is not paying us salaries for the last three months. We are passing through a harrowing time since one year and we want justice."

He said, "We are not responsible for this strike, government is the one causing inconvenience to the public. We don't mind getting arrested, it is a matter of our livelihood, we do not have money to run our families."

Meanwhile, Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra and several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) volunteers on Sunday took to the streets to clean up the garbage.