New Delhi Dec 21 PTI In a novel way to register their protest over the delay in NEET-PG 2021 counselling several resident doctors in Delhi on Tuesday threw flowers on security barricades and clanged utensils and clapped in front of the Nirman Bhawan here saying they were symbolically returning the adulation showered on them for being Covid warriors As the stir led by the Federation of Resident Doctors Association FORDA resumed after a week-long hiatus entered into its fifth day in Tuesday patient care remained affected at three Centre-run facilities -- Safdarjung RML and Lady Hardinge hospitals -- and some of the Delhi government-run hospitalsMeanwhile the IMAs Junior Doctors Network has written to Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya demanding fast-tracking of the court hearing to expedite NEET-PG 2021 counselling while extending solidarity with resident doctors protesting outside Nirman Bhawan which houses the health ministry office for the second consecutive dayMany wore white lab coats and stethoscopes thrown around the neck chucked floral petals on security barricades and on a lab coat hung on a barricade with Dear Union Health Ministry scrawled on its back as scores of other medics clanged utensils clapped and chanted We want justiceDuring the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic the government authorities had showered floral petals from mid-air and had asked people to clang utensils and clap for a few minutes by coming out in the open in balconies of their homes in acknowledgement of the yeoman services rendered by doctors to fight the pandemicFORDA in a statement issued late evening said Since the voices of thousands of resident doctors are not being heard by the authorities we have returned the taalis and thaalis that were clamoured and phool flowers which were showered upon us during the previous waves of COVID-19 pandemicWe have also requested the honourable presidents of all political parties of the nation to take note of our grievance and to highlight the issue in Parliament of India during the ongoing Winter Session the statement saidResident doctors of various hospitals in Delhi on Monday had protested in front of the Nirman Bhawan over the delay in NEET-PG 2021 counselling affecting patient care servicesIn the face of the imminent third wave of COVID-19 and one third of the remaining resident workforce we have been left with no choice but to intensify the ongoing strike to push further our demands We stand in solidarity and participate with resident doctors all over the country who are protesting against the delay in NEET PG counselling including withdrawal from all services and protesting today 20th December 2021 at Nirmal Bhavan the IMAs Junior Doctors Network had said in the letter written on MondayFor the due optimisation of lives of the patients the overburdened junior residents and around 50000 doctors who have been waiting to be deployed in their earned PG seats amid repeated deferment and hazy policies we demand the fast tracking of court hearing to necessarily expedite NEET PG counselling it statedThe protesting doctors carried banners and posters held demonstrations and raised slogans seeking redressal of the issuePolice security has been stepped up in the street in front of Nirman BhawanMembers of RDAs of all major hospitals of Delhi under the banner of FORDA had marched and demonstrated in front of Nirman Bhawan as part of the ongoing agitation to expedite NEET-PG counselling 2021 on Monday FORDA president Dr Manish saidSubsequently there was a meeting of FORDA and RDA representatives with the Union health minister at Nirman Bhawan he saidHowever as earlier the minister gave only verbal assurance no concrete measure has been taken by the authorities concerned he had saidBy evening protesters went away as they were not prepared to camp in the streets and returned to the same place on Tuesday morningOn December 9 the resident doctors had said they were suspending the agitation called by the FORDA for a week following the health ministrys assurance to expedite court hearing and subsequently fast-tracking of the counselling processHowever on Wednesday FORDA wrote to the Union health minister informing him that it was resuming the stir from December 17AIIMS RDA which has been protesting the delay in NEET-PG counselling by working with black ribbons on their arms held a candlelight march in the evening from JLN auditorium in the campus to gate number one on MondayResident doctors at Ram Manohar Lohia Safdarjung and Lady Hardinge Hospitals and three hospitals under the Maulana Azad Medical College MAMC including LNJP Hospital had resumed the stir on Friday accusing the government of making a false promiseThey also pointed out the acute shortage of resident doctors across the country as the counselling of NEET-PG 2021 batch has already been delayed by eight monthsPTI KNDPLB SRY