The Tamil Nadu government will hold talks with the striking medical college students and house surgeons on May 3 and hear their demands, Health Minister S Semmalai told the Assembly today.

Replying to points raised by the Opposition members on the issue, he said that it was the prerogative of the Medical Council of India (MCI) to decide about giving recognition to the private, self financing medical colleges in the state, and that the state government had no powers to decide about the issue. He further added that since the state had never said it would allow private, self financing medical colleges the students need not have any apprehension about the same.

The government had an open mind on their demand for reduction in the college fee and a hike in the stipend for the house surgeons, he further said He appealed to the striking students and house surgeons to call off their agitation.