SRINAGAR: Apni Party leaders on Monday joined the ongoing protest by MBBS and BDS interns in Srinagar, extending support to their demand for an increase in internship stipend.
Medical interns from 10 Government Medical Colleges and two Dental Colleges across Jammu and Kashmir began a 48-hour hunger strike at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar on Monday after talks with the government failed to resolve the issue of stipend enhancement.
Led by Provincial President Mohammad Ashraf Mir, a delegation of Apni Party leaders visited the protest site and expressed support for the interns’ demands.
Addressing the gathering, Mir alleged that medical interns were being paid inadequate stipends despite performing clinical duties and urged the government to increase the monthly stipend in line with rates offered to interns in other parts of the country.
He called on the government to resolve the issue within two weeks and said the party would intensify its agitation, including protests and a hunger strike, if the demands remained unaddressed.
Among those who accompanied Mir were party spokesperson Ishrat Bhat, District President Srinagar and Constituency In-charge Central Shaltang Zaffar Habib, Provincial Youth President Kashmir Jibran Dar, Youth District Vice President Srinagar Mudasir Ahmad Bhat and Mateena Rajput.
The interns have been demanding a revision of their monthly stipend and have said they will continue their agitation until their concerns are addressed.
