The West Bengal Health Regulatory Commission, set up to monitor private hospitals, will start functioning within a week and a website will be in place for lodging online complaints, one of its members said on Friday.

"It will start working in a week. We will also consider online complaints," panel member M.L. Saha said.

Senior Calcutta High Court Justice Ashim Kumar Roy will officiate as chairman of the 13-member high-powered commission that has the status of a civil court. It is empowered to issue summons in case of a dispute.

Consumer Affairs Department Secretary Anil Verma will be its Vice-Chairman.

Apart from the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman, the other 11 members include renowned doctors, a representative of nurses, Director of Medical Education, a nominee of Health Department, and two police officers. Politicians have not been included.

The commission, was proposed to be set up through The West Bengal Clinical Establishments (Registration, Regulation and Transparency) Bill, 2017. 

The Act, passed by the assembly on March 3, aims to bring in transparency, end harassment of patients and check medical negligence in private hospitals and nursing homes. 

All other private medical set-ups – irrespective of whether they are registered or not — come under its ambit.

The penal measures range between compensation and scrapping licences of erring physicians/hospitals. 

The commission may also put the offender behind bars for up to three years. It can also order trying the offender under the Indian Penal Code, including under sections pertaining to culpable homicide in case a patient dies due to severe negligence.

No FIR has been registered in the assault case of the Air India staffer by a Shiv Sena MP, Ravindra Gaikwad, according to the AI Cabin Crew Association.

The Association lamented that the Chairman and Managing Director of Air India, Ashwani Lohani, was not present in support of the staff.  

"The CMD should have himself gone and asked the police to file an FIR," said KVJ Rao, General Secretary of Air India Cabin Crew Association. Two complaints have been lodged by the police on the statements of the airport manager and the staffer. "Statements of both the airport manager and the staffer were recorded by the police and two complaints were registered. One of the complaints was related to the assault on the staffer and the other was of delaying the Air India flight," said Rao.   

He said the two complaints have not yet been converted into an FIR. "The police gives lots of excuses when a VIP is involved for not filing an FIR," said Rao. The contractual employee, a part of the commercial staff, was in the airport premises. "He went inside the flight to ask the MP to deboard as the flight did not have a business seat. That is when the altercation took place. And the MP beat him up," said Rao.  

Air India in an official statement yesterday said two FIRs have been filed in the case. One FIR is for assaulting the employee and the second is for delaying the flight for 40 minutes.

 Rao said there is a Supreme Court ruling that in cognizable offences, the police has to file an FIR. "In the Lalita Kumari Vs Union of India case, the SC has given this ruling," he said. 

He also cited the case of three air hostesses with Air India, who were abused in 2009 on a New York-Mumbai flight. "Even then it was the air hostesses who had to personally file the FIR. The whole crew including the Commander had gone to file the FIR," said Rao. 

According to a source in Air India, there are 250 retired employees working on the staff of Air India as contractual employees. Sukumar, the 61-year-old contract employee, is likely to have been a retired Air India employee. 

To reduce liabilities on the airline, the recruitment policy of Air India has shifted to hiring employees on contract. At present there are 1800 contractual cabin crew and 980 contractual pilots. "Contractual employees are also part of the staff of the airline. They must be treated at par," said Rao. 

Spanish tennis star Garbiñe Muguruza got off to a rocky start at the Miami Open and currently trails American Christina McHale 0-6, 2-3 in second-round action, although a rain delay may have given her a new lease of life.

The world No. 6 double-faulted four times in the first set of Thursday's match and was also unable to make any impression on the service games of the 46th-ranked McHale, who won 16 of her 19 service points en route to the "bagel," reports Efe.

The 2016 French Open champion was better on return at the start of the second set, although she lost her serve two more times and was down a service break when heavy rain postponed the action until Friday.

McHale's domination of the baseline rallies was reflected in the players' winning percentage on second-serve points, with the American capturing 80 percent of those points and Muguruza just 33 percent through a set and a half.

That match at this elite hard court event will resume early Friday afternoon on Stadium court after the completion of a contest pitting Romanian world No. 5 Simona Halep against promising Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka. 

Scientists have identified a vitamin that plays a key role in repairing damaged DNA and may lead to the development of a drug that can reverse ageing, fight cancer as well as help in space travel.

The study, published in the journal Science, identified how a vitamin called NAD+ — naturally present in every cell of our body — was regulating the interactions that control DNA repair.

Treating mice with a NAD+ precursor, or "booster", called NMN improved their cells' ability to repair DNA damage caused by radiation exposure or old age.

"The cells of the old mice were indistinguishable from the young mice, after just one week of treatment," said lead author David Sinclair, who is a professor at University of New South Wales in Australia.

The findings may lead to drugs to treat cancer, Alzheimer's, protect astronauts from radiation during their various missions to space, as well as mitigate any effects of DNA damage for frequent flyers, the researchers said.

In addition, scientists have established that NAD+ could be useful for treating various diseases of ageing, female infertility and also treating side effects of chemotherapy.

Human trials of NMN therapy will begin within six months.

"This is the closest we are to a safe and effective anti-ageing drug that's perhaps only three to five years away from being on the market if the trials go well," Sinclair added. 

When doing the quintessential heroine roles didn't work in her favour, Taapsee Pannu decided to turn the tables with heroic characters in content-driven films.

She says those who were once her detractors have now stood in line to get her dates and her time for double the price.

At the India Today Woman Summit and Awards here on Friday, Taapsee spoke fearlessly about the ways of the film industry towards women.

She narrated: "I have been asked to slash my rates because the hero's last film didn't do well and the budget was limited, or the producer's last film didn't do well. So, I was told, 'Either you walk out or slash your price'.

"How I worked around it was when I started with Hindi films, I made sure I am going to do whatever it takes to be not-replaceable. How?

"Have a name for yourself, do the kind of films you want to and do it in a way that they have no other way but to notice. And when you go back, the same people will wait in a queue to get you at double the price probably."

It's a reality that happened with Taapsee.

"Without taking names, tables have turned and I have gone to the same people at double the price, and they stood in a line waiting for my dates, only because I decided to fight like a girl," added the actress, unwilling to "compromise" for anything to get what she wants.

Her sentiment, she said, were in tune with the event presenter Vivel's campaign 'Ab Samjhauta Nahin', which inspires women to question the social fabric that tends to stereotype and at times impede their lifestyle choices.

Taapsee says now she just smiles at the people who first turned her down.

"I am warm and welcoming, and I have even invited them to my next film's premiere," she said, ahead of the release of her new film "Naam Shabana".

Having featured in a string of films in Tamil and Telugu, Taapsee's noticeable role in Hindi films came with Baby. Naam Shabana is a spin-off of that 2015 film, and Taapsee will be seen in some daring action scenes.

In between, she has garnered acclaimed for "Pink" — the movie with a powerful message on how when women say no, they mean strictly no.

At this point, she says she won't mind doing "girly" roles.

"I like dressing up. Doing brave-girl, hard roles was my way of getting them to notice me. Now, they look at me and think, 'Oh, she's a pretty face, she can dress up too'," she quipped.

Also, she has overcome a "fear of being stereotyped".

"In Bollywood, they're seeing me as the girl next door, and I love that tag. But I'm trying to balance it out with my choice of roles. I'm really looking forward to playing a psycho-trippy woman, maybe with a split personality," she added.

With India's regular skipper Virat Kohli's participation in the deciding final cricket Test still under the cloud following a shoulder injury, Australia skipper Steve Smith on Friday backed vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane's abilities to lead the hosts in the crucial game, starting on Saturday.

The 28-year-old Kohli will need to pass a fitness test on Saturday morning before his participation in the crucial match is decided. Mumbai youngster Shreyas Iyer was on Thursday drafted in as a cover to the Delhi batsman.

Smith, however, felt that Rahane understands the game pretty well and can easily shoulder the responsibility of leading the side in case Kohli misses out of the game at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium here.

"I think (India) would be fine (without Kohli). I think Ajinkya Rahane would probably step up to captain their side," Smith said in the pre-match press conference.

"I thought he did a pretty good job last week when he was out on the field in Virat's absence. I am confident he'll be able to do a good job for them." 

After the shocking loss in the opening Test in Pune, India bounced back well in the second game in Bengaluru to level the series.

Charges and counter-charges took the front seat following the second Test, when Kohli raised his voice against Smith seeking the help of the Australian dressing room for deciding on a review of a leg before decision, which the latter had termed as a "brain fade".

The drawn third Test at Ranchi was no less dramatic, with Aussie all-rounder Glenn Maxwell mocking an injured Kohli while diving to save a ball cross the boundary rope.

Kohli gave it back to the visitors with the same gestures when left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja went through the defences of opener David Warner in the second innings.

But Smith, who led his Australian side to seek blessings of the Dalai Lama earlier in the day, expects to face a different, calmer India if Kohli is ruled out.

"(Rahane) was probably a bit more chilled out on the field. Probably not quite as emotional but I think he understands the game really well," he said.

"I've been fortunate enough to play a fair bit of cricket with Ajinkya and he reads the game and understands the game really well, so if Virat was to miss this Test match, then I'm sure the Indian side will still be in very good hands," the 27-year-old added.

Both Smith and Rahane are part of the Rising Pune Supergiant franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which will be led by the Australian this season.

Adhaar verification boosts customers' confidence in the authenticity of profiles on matrimonial sites, reveals a survey.

According to the survey conducted last week by matrimonial website Lovevivah.com, maturity and compatibility of life partner lies high on agenda rather than their social status. The survey was conducted on 2000 active users of the matrimonial website, read a statement. 

The survey highlights the importance of Aadhar based verification. 

As many as 74 per cent users believe that adding the Aadhaar verification as a check has increased the authenticity. Another finding is that 80 per cent of users feel that online matrimonial sites are unsafe, insecure and full of fake profiles.

One more important number that came out of this survey was the fact that the popularity on online matrimonial websites is also increasing with every passing day. According to the number compiled, 14 per cent of the users, who took part in the survey, found their life partner through online matrimonial sites.

For 32 per cent, maturity and compatibility are the most important factors when searching for a life partner, followed by educational qualification (20 per cent), financial independence (18 per cent), looks and appearance (17 per cent) and finally Family or social status (13 per cent).

The PDP–BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday suffered humilation as the Election Commission of India (ECI) reversed the appointment of 16 activists of the two parties as chairmen and vice-chairmen of various boards and corporations.
Following complaints by opposition parties the ECI asked the State Government to defer the appointments of  these persons till completion of process for bye-election for the  Srinagar and Anantnag Parliamentary Constituencies in the State.
The ECI has ordered that if any formal orders have been issued on or after March 9, 2017, the date of announcement of bye-elections in Srinagar and Anantnag Parliamentary Constituencies, the same may be rescinded with immediate effect. 
The opposition National Conference and Congress have appreciated the order of the ECI.

Singer Rihanna is reportedly considering reconciling with former beau and singer-songwriter Chris Brown. But her friends are concerned about her getting back with him.

"Her friends are shocked that she would consider it at all after everything he put her through back in the day. Friends of Rihanna want her to think about what he did to her and want her to move forward and not backwards," a source told Hollywood Life magazine.

"They understand that she and Chris had a strong bond, but there are some things you just have to move on from. Her pals are hoping that she never returns to Chris even in a friend's capacity," the source added.

In February 2009, a day prior to the Grammys, Brown physically assaulted Rihanna, beating her black and blue. Brown got worked up when Rihaana confronted him for cheating on her after they came out of a pre-Grammy party.

Brown was on a six-year felony probation which ended in 2015.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will take up the issue of India's scheduled bilateral series with Pakistan in November-December during the International Cricket Council meeting in April.

PCB chief Shaharyar Khan said the board had completed its homework on the legal options available to press a case against the Indian board for its refusal to play Pakistan in a full bilateral series since 2007 resulting in losses of millions of dollars to Pakistan cricket.

“Our legal preparations are complete but first we will take up the issue of the scheduled series with India in November-December this year at the ICC meeting next month,” said Khan, a former career diplomat.

“We want to first talk with the new representatives of Indian cricket board in the ICC meeting and ask them about the status of the scheduled series under the MOU signed between both boards in 2014,” he said.

The PCB aware of the existing relations between the two countries has already talked about inviting Bangladesh or Sri Lanka in the same window that India are supposed to play the bilateral series this winter.

Khan said that since 2007 and after the MOU was signed, Pakistan cricket has suffered huge losses because India had not even agreed to give Pakistan a chance to host its due series at a neutral venue.

“We have lost atleast two home series against India and that calculates to millions of dollars in revenues for us,” he said.

Khan said that once the ICC meeting is held and Pakistan takes up the November-December series it will then decide on its future course of action.

“We have not ruled out legal processes to be compensated for our huge losses caused by the refusal of India to play us,” he said.

The PCB chief also admitted that the Federation of International Cricketers Association was a big hurdle in the way of international cricket returning to Pakistan.

“We held the final of the Pakistan Super League successfully in Lahore but even now test playing boards are not receptive to sending their teams to Pakistan because of security concerns,” he admitted.

Khan said this included the Bangladesh cricket board whom Pakistan has now requested to atleast play two T20 matches in Lahore.

Pakistan are due to play a series in Bangladesh in July-August this year and it has asked the BCB to play two of the T20 matches in Lahore.

Khan said that talks were also on for a World eleven to tour Pakistan later this year.

“The fact is that FICA has advised cricket boards and players not to tour Pakistan at this time because of security fears. They even advised the West Indies board from playing a few games in Lahore.

“We are now trying to talk to them, their security experts and get them to come and see for themselves the security arrangements we are capable of providing to teams,” he said.

India on Friday asserted that Pakistan must effectively address the core issue of terrorism emanating from its soil rather than harping on the Jammu and Kashmir issue.

Terrorism from Pakistan was not only affecting India but other countries in the region as well, MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay noted at his press briefing here when his attention was drawn to confusing signals being sent by Islamabad which was pitching for the resumption of bilateral dialogue and at the same time raising the J-K issue at every forum.

Asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi had written to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on Thursday on the occasion of ‘Pakistan Day’, the spokesperson said this was a normal practice being followed by the Indian leadership in the case of every Head of State and Government on such occasions and there was nothing new about it.  He said while he was not aware of the exact details of the letter, the PM must have written that India would like to build a relationship with Pakistan in an environment free of violence and terrorism.

On the just concluded talks between India and Pakistan over the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), the spokesperson pointed out that the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) was mandated to meet once every financial year. ‘’So long as we are a party to the treaty, it is incumbent on us to fulfill that treaty.”’ He said the Indian delegation had returned to India and New Delhi was in the process of assessing its deliberations on various technical matters.

On reports from Islamabad that India and Pakistan would hold the next meeting of IWT in Washington under the auspices of the World Bank, he said he would not like to speculate on any ‘hypothetical contingencies’ until the outcome of the talks held in Pakistan earlier this week had been assessed.

Baba Ramdev is paying special emphasis on training women Yoga instructors-cum-promoter. The move is aimed at making the traditional Indian physical, mental, and spiritual practice reach every home through the involvement of women force.

The first part of the four-day Yoga workshop for Patanjali‘s women wing concluded recently and the second of the series will kick off in Haridwar from Saturday. Such specialised women Yoga camps have now become an annual feature at Ramdev Ashram now.  

The first Yoga workshop  attracted over 2,000 women participants from different parts of India. It was hosted from 20 to 23 March in Haridwar with women involved with Patanjali Yogpeeth in Maharashtra, Goa, Rajasthan, Orissa, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, etc taking part. 

Baba Ramdev said, “We aim at making a strong and disease free India. Women, committed to popularize Yoga,  can play a crucial role in this.”

According to Patanjali Yogpeeth those who attended the workshop recently and who will participate in the coming camp will go to their area and conduct a door-to-door campaign making an appeal to public to practice Yoga. The move is to connect each family with Yoga by involving the women volunteers of the Yogpeeth.

Though the Baba Ramdev Ashram conducts Yoga camps- but they are open for both men and women. The Patanjali launched this course couple of years back and now has become popular among women volunteers. The camp provides the participants a chance to learn Yoga from Baba Ramdev and his close aide Acharya Balkrishna.

Patanjali Yogpeeth’s general secretary Acharya Balkrishna said, "I will make an appeal to women to practice Yoga and motive others to do so. Conduct Yoga classes in villages, colonies and other localities.”

The Baba Ramdev Ashram is making every effort to expand Yoga at family level. The special initiative to train women Yoga instructors-cum-promoter is one such move towards this direction.

Even over one-and-half-year after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the International Airport at Chandigarh, the same has failed to get its name as Punjab and Haryana have failed to reach a consensus using Chandigarh or Mohali in
airport's address.

While now the two states — who are partners in the airport project — have agreed on naming the airport as Shaheed-E-Aazam Bhagat Singh International Airport, the matter remains unresolved over the location to be shown — Mohali or Chandigarh — in the official address.

While Punjab, which has given land for the international airport on its side adjoining the domestic airport — wants that Mohali should be part of the  name as it's located in Mohali (bordering Chandigarh), Haryana sees it as an attempt to take credit for the airport  which is part of Chandigarh.

The contention arises between the two states on the issue as as the airport runway is located in the Union territory of Chandigarh, however the new international terminal is located on the south side of the runway in the village of Jhiurheri in Mohali (SAS Nagar) of
Punjab.

According to a senior Punjab official the runway located in Mohali, that is why Mohali should be there as its location while Haryana counterparts says that the airport belongs to the Chandigarh and it should be the official address of the International Airport.

Haryana Principal Secretary, Civil Aviation, Mahavir Singh told The Statesman that the state government has given its nod for naming the airport after Saheed Bhagat Singh but it is not in favour of putting Mohali as official position.

Though, both of the states have continued to maintain that right to take final decision in this regard is reserved with the Centre,
however a senior official from the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation told The Statesman that the states need to reach an agreement of the issue of the city.

"Why should the Centre take anybody's side, the states reach a consensus and tell us which of the cities they want, we will do the
same," he added. Ruckus was witnessed in Rabha Sabha on Thursday when the CPI-M alleged that the Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had preferred the name of the said airport after RSS ideologue Mangal Sen instead of Bhagat Singh.  However, the Haryana government refuted the CPI-M claims saying that earlier also it had expressed its willingness over naming the airport after Saheed Bhagat Singh.

Haryana Finance Minister Captain Abhimanyu said that it would be a matter of pride for the state if the Chandigarh airport is named after the martyr. The civil air terminal at Chandigarh airport was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on September 11 last 2015. Initially, both of the states had agreed to it being named after Bhagat Singh, controversy errupted when Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar desired to name the airport after Mangal Sen. however, later on the Haryana government clarified that is had no objection to the airport being named after Shaheed Bhagat Singh.

With sex ratio in Haryana touching the mark of 938 girls per 1,000 boys in February, chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has congratulated teams of all districts for their commendable performance in this regard.

This was conveyed by the additional principal secretary to CM, Rakesh Gupta while interacting with officers of all districts through video conferencing at Kurukshetra on Friday.

He directed the officers of Health Department to monitor the situation and make coordinated efforts to achieve further improvement in the sex ratio. He also directed the Protection Officers of Integrated Child Development Services to carry out extensive promotion and publicity activities under the ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ programme.

Gupta further stated that all possible efforts would have to be made to achieve the vision of the CM to provide 24-hour power supply in the state in the next two years.He directed the officers of power utilities to ensure round-the-clock power supply in the state at the earliest.

Superintending engineer of Ambala has been directed to make efforts to provide 24-hour power supply in the district by August 15 and after that efforts would be made to extend the service in all districts.

Besides, the officers have been directed to ensure that there were no B-Grade or C-Grade feeders and all feeders should be upgraded to A-Grade at the earliest.

Gupta said that all districts of the state would have to be made Open Defecation Free (ODF). About 16 districts in rural areas have already been included in the category, but efforts in this direction need to be made in urban areas.

So far the urban areas of districts Ambala and Kurukshetra have become ODF and soon Fatehabad would also become ODF. He directed Deputy Commissioners and other officers of all districts to make efforts to achieve this goal, he added.

He also reviewed the functioning of ‘Suvidha Kendras’ functioning under e-Disha Kendras and directed all Sub Divisional Officers that people should get facilities through e-Disha Kendras and that corruption would not be tolerated at these Kendras.

Under fire after a poor outing in the Champions League, English football giants Arsenel head coach Arsene Wenger has received the backing of midfielder Alex Iwobi, who said the Frenchman deserves more respect from the fans.

"They need to have a bit more respect, in my opinion," Iwobi told the Daily Mail after representing Nigeria in their draw with Senegal in a friendly on Thursday.

"I mean, he's been at the club for 20 years, he's achieved a lot, obviously they're a bit impatient with the results and where they want to finish."

"We also want to finish there, we want to win the league like anyone else, I can guarantee we are trying our hardest. Whatever happens we are the players, we affect the result. We don't really look at the banners or what fans are screaming, we focus on trying to do our jobs on the pitch," he added.

Wenger has been receiving a lot of flak after a spate of poor results recently both in the English Premier League and the Champions League where they were humbled 2-10 by German Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich.

Angry fans staged protest marches before the Gunners' home ties, asking for the French manager resignation.

Iwobi, however, felt that the supporters were impatient. "Honestly, I'm waiting as much as you guys are. I don't know exactly what's going on. But me, personally, I'd like him to stay."

"No matter who is in the job, or who gets the role, we're always going to fight for the manager, every player always gives 100 percent, no matter what, we'll just play."

"He always backs our players and he is a great man. He's been great to me as well, I'll always back him, no matter what. For what he's done for me, I'd like to say thank you, for bringing me into such a world class team, and I'm playing almost regularly," he added in his support for Wenger.

The Supreme Court on Friday directed Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments to provide "adequate security" to the witnesses in the alleged child rape case against godman Asaram Bapu.

"State of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana will provide full protection to the witnesses by providing adequate security to them," ordered the bench of Justice AK Sikri and Justice Ashok Bhushan.

"You must have scheme for the protection of witnesses. It is high time," it observed.

The court order came as counsel Utsav Bains appearing for the witnesses told the bench that Uttar Pradesh was doing nothing for their protection.

Petitioner Mahender Chawla and others have moved the top court for the framing of national witness protection guidelines, and an SIT probe into the murder of a witness.

Chawla is a witness residing in Haryana, while the other three witnesses – journalist Narender Yadav, Naresh Gupta and Karamvir Singh – live in Uttar Pradesh, Bains said.

Asaram, lodged in the Jodhpur Central Jail, is facing a trial under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl. 

The 72-year-old spiritual leader was arrested on September 2, 2013 after the 16-year-old girl lodged a police complaint on August 20, 2013, accusing him of sexually assaulting her at his ashram in Jodhpur. He is jail since then.

Following a stern warning by the Bombay High Court on Friday, doctors in government and private hospitals across Maharashtra agreed to withdraw their agitation amid revelations that at least 135 patients died in Mumbai in the past five days.

As per the court orders, the doctors are expected to resume normal duties by 8 am on Saturday in all government hospitals in the state.

Taking a serious view of flouting of its orders on Thursday, the High Court today served an ultimatum to the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) to either join duties or face termination proceedings.

Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice G.S. Kulkarni observed that "the doctors are taking undue advantage of us and our sympathy".

"If you (doctors) keep stretching the matter like this, then public will come and hit you. You are creating such an atmosphere," the bench said.

They made it clear if this attitude of the doctors continued, then the hospital managements were free to take action against them, including termination of services.

"We think we made a mistake yesterday by showing them sympathy and appreciating their work," the bench noted.

The BrihanMumbai Mumbai Corp (BMC) told the court that in the past five days of doctors' agitation, 135 patients lost their lives in Mumbai's government hospitals, including 53 in KEM, 48 in Sion LTMG and 34 in Nair due to non-availability of emergency services.

Following a strict deadline of 3 p.m. set by the court, the MARD filed an affidavit stating that it had failed to convince its members to withdraw their mass leave agitation and MARD had no objections if the government takes action against the doctors.

Shortly afterwards, the 40,000-strong Indian Medical Association (IMA) of Maharashtra also announced withdrawal of the agitation by its doctors in private hospitals and general practitioners.

Earlier, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made a fervent appeal to the medicos to resume work and reprimanded them for forgetting their (Hippocratic) oath to serve the sick and needy.