Punjab News Express/ Sameer Kaura PHAGWARA: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) National President Dr Ravi Wankhedker who was on “Bharat Yatra” which originated from Kanyakumari on February 24 and arrived in Punjab after taking round of 24 States of the Country last night.

Bharat Yatra arrived at Phagwara after visiting Amritsar and Jalandhar and proceeded to Khatkarkalan to Pay homage to Shahed Bhagat Singh and then to Ludhiana after visiting Nawanshahr.

IMA Former State President Dr SPS Sooch who is accompanying IMA National President told this correspondent here on Wednesday Afternon that the aim of Nationwide Bharat Yatra to protest against National Medical Commission Bill and mobilise public opinion on the proposed law .

Dr Ravi Wankhedkar, National president and Vice president Dr Paramjit Singh Basssi along with state president Dr Jatinder Kansal and Former State President Dr SPS Sooch said that the Bharat Yatra would conclude at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium New Delhi on March 25 where Mahapanchat of IMA would be held where more than 25,000 representatives of IMA from the entire country would participate.

While talking to media Dr Wankhedker said the government had earlier deferred the Bill in Lok Sabha after a nationwide strike by IMA and other associations and sent it to standing committee for review. The Bill proposed to replace the existing Medical Council of India (MCI) with the National Medical Commission.

He said, the medical fraternity is widely opposing the proposal to allow Ayurveda doctors and medical practitioners of other Indian medical systems to prescribe allopathic drugs. Earlier IMA Phagwara led by Dr Rajan accorded warm welcome of Bharat Yatra.

Dr S Mahindra,GB Singh,Puneet Galhotra, Dr Ramesh Arora, Dr RS Nagpal,Saurav Saroch,Mamta Gautam,GP Singh,Mohan Singh,Gurpreet Kaur,Usha Gupta,Rahul, were among those doctors who welcomed and presented a Cheque of Rs One Lac on behalf of IMA Phagwara. Dr Sooch told that each branch of IMA Amritsar,Jalandhar,Phagwara,Hoshiarpur,Nawanshahr,Khanna,Patiala,Ludhiana gave cheques of Rs One Lac each to IMA National President Dr Wankhedeker to continue struggle against proposed NMC. Dr Sooch said IMA will intensify its stir if Union Government could not withdraw the bill.