Black day for AIIMS, bring back Venugopal: BJP

New Delhi, July 5: Demanding the revocation of the decision to sack AIIMS Director P Venugopal, the BJP today said Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss' action does not augur well for the well-laid norms for running the autonomous institution.

BJP Parliamentary Party Spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra, who was among the three members on the Board of Governors of AIIMS to record their dissent against the resolution moved by Dr Ramadoss, said the action against Dr Venugopal was ''improper, dictatorial and not following the established procedures.''

Mr Malhotra, who along with Delhi University Vice Chancellor Paintal and Mr S S Aggarwal, expressed dissent against the resolution, told newspersons that the sacking would send a very wrong message to the world and the medical profession. The Minister had 'bullied' the other members of the Board to comply with his resolution by repeatedly invoking the names of Prime Minister and beyond. ''It is a black day for the autonomous body,'' he said.

He said the dismissed AIIMS director was not issued any notice nor was allowed to give his views on the allegations faced by him.

Action could have been taken after a probe report. Dr Venugopal was appointed by the Cabinet Committee and could not be removed without Cabinet approval, he added.

He said the BJP condemned the sacking and would raise the issue in Parliament against the ''illegal, undemocratic and unwarranted measure''. ''We are sorry that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi are silent while Dr Ramadoss is taking advantage of their names,'' he said.

UNI