Chennai, Oct 25 (IANS): Thousands of patients in both out- and in- patients department in government hospitals in Tamil Nadu were affected as around 17,000 doctors went on an indefinite strike from Friday demanding pay parity.

Besides pay parity with their counterparts in the central government, they are also demanding non-reduction of the number of doctors and time-bound promotion to be implemented.

DMK President M.K.Stalin on Friday urged the Tamil Nadu government to hold talks with the striking doctors and find a solution.

In a statement issued here Stalin said despite giving a written representation by the doctors, the government has not acted.

Stalin condemned Chief Minister K.Palaniswami for forcing the government doctors to go on strike.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly also urged the striking doctors to hold talks with the government and find a solution and not to resort to strikes.

The striking doctors had said in-patients will not be attended to unless it is an emergency.

According to the striking doctors, life saving/medical/surgical emergencies will be attended.