Delhi BJP President comes out in Venugopal's support

New Delhi, July 5 (UNI) Delhi BJP Chief Harshvardhan today termed the dismissal of AIIMS Director P Venugopal ''grave humiliation'' of the medical fraternity and urged President A P J Abdul Kalam to intervene in the issue.

''President Kalam should intervene and protect the honour of the medical world of India because he is himself a scientist,'' Dr Harshvardhan said.

''Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss is behaving in a despotic manner and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is silent,'' he added.

He said despite the matter being in Supreme Court, the Health Minister was adamant to keep his authority supreme.

The Delhi BJP President alleged that the Health Minister had also tried to dilute the autonomy of the Medical Council of India a few years ago.

''Now he is trying to finish the autonomy of AIIMS,'' he added.

Dr Harshvardhan said the decision will result in downgrade of the Indian medical services.

''Dr Venugopal is a reputed personality in the medical world.

He is credited with the first successful heart transplant in India.

It is the gift of physicians like him that today, the heart transplant and the treatment of other heart diseases is available at low rates in India,'' he added.

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