New Delhi, May 18 (IANS): Senior doctors from hospitals under the municipal corporations of Delhi on Monday called off their strike in view of the problems being faced by the patients.

However, they threatened to go on an indefinite strike if their demands were not met within 20 days.

The doctors said they have not been paid salaries since February besides house and travel allowances and other arrears. They were on strike since May 17.

"We called off the strike due to the problems that the patients were facing because of our absence from duty. However, let me be very direct that we have given another 20 days time to the municipality and the Delhi government. If there is no reaction then we will stage a bigger strike,"said R.R. Gautam, president of the Municipal Corporation Doctors Association (MCDA).

The doctors had also threatened to go on mass casual leave to stage a march to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung's house following which the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) threatened to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act against the doctors and class 4 employees.

Noting this act of the NDMC, Gautam said, "If the NDMC tries to do anything it has stated....our retaliation will be more severe."

He also urged the home ministry to intervene and help them in getting their salaries as soon as possible.

"I will also write to the National Human Right Commission... as we are also human beings. Apart from the salaries we are not being given the essential services that we are entitled to," he told IANS.

They doctors earlier also met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and apprised him of their plight.