Andhra CM rejects doctors' demand

Stalemate over junior doctors' stir in Andhra Pradesh continued for the fourth day today as Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy rejected their demand for filing a case for non-bailable offence against a city MLA for allegedly attacking them at a state-run children's hospital.

''The concerned police officials would decide the charges to be framed. How can we interfere in the day to day functioning of the police officers. How can they (doctors) tell us what sections to be invoked,'' Reddy told reporters on Tuesday.

He was asked about the specific demand of the striking medicos that non-bailable charges should be framed against Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) MLA Afsar Khan, who allegedly attacked the doctors on duty at Niloufer government children's hospital on Sunday last.

Denying that his government was soft-pedalling on the MIM MLA, he said action would be taken in accordance with law.

He made an appeal to the doctors saying the government cared for their security and that they should call off their stir in the interest of the patients.

However, the medicos continued their stir joined by their seniors who staged a token protest, throwing medical services out of gear.