Watch: AIIMS Delhi nurses go on strike, protest against suspension of president; say women safety ignored

A protest was staged at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences or AIIMS, in Delhi on April 26. The AIIMS nurses union began an "indefinite strike" against the suspension of its president Harish Kumar Kajla. The union called the AIIMS administration "undemocratic" and said that Kajla had been suspended without citing proper reasons.

Meanwhile, the AIIMS administration issued a memorandum stating that no employees or faculty members were allowed to stop work for any reason. Nurses were asked to abide by the code of conduct.

Harish Kajla, who was suspended, said that the entire issue was over the safety of women nurses, who were demanding a change in duty hours. He said, "For the last 1, 1.5 years, safety issues were being highlighted over the shifts of women employees. Their duty hours were ending around 9 pm. There's a rise in crime in Delhi late at night. They used to be worried. They suffered eve-teasing etc at bus stops. They raised this issue with the union. The union sent 2-3 written communications to AIIMS admin that duty hours at AIIMS operation theatres and wards end at 8 pm. But in the main OT area, it ends at 9 pm, and women have been facing safety and security issues. Union sought change in duty hours. We had been requesting for 1, 1.5 years, but it wasn't done."