IMA seeks reinstatement of Venugopal as AIIMS Dir

New Delhi, July 5: Describing as ''shocking and shameful'' the dismissal of AIIMS Director P Venugopal, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) today sought the intervention of the President and the Prime Minister to ''save'' the premier institute and revoke the decision.

''Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss is targeting Dr Venugopal and the autonomy of AIIMS... the entire medical fraternity is with Dr Venugopal, a renowned cardiologist. This will not be tolerated,'' IMA Secretary General Vinay Aggarwal told a news conference here.

''The decision smacks of ill-designs of Dr Ramadoss....

especially at a time when the High Court is seized of the matter on the working of AIIMS,'' he alleged.

Dr Aggarwal said the decision is in total disregard of the Dr Venugopal's credentials and reputation.

''The same Government had given him an extension two-and-half years ago and today they have dismissed him.... It is shameful and shocking,'' he added.

He accused the Health Minister of turning the AIIMS into a ''political hub'' for his personal gains.

''Dr Ramadoss wants to use AIIMS for his personal gains.... He wants to install a relative of his at the key position and compromise the autonomy of the world class institute....,'' Dr Aggarwal added.

Urging President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene, he said AIIMS, a internationally acclaimed research institute, the reputation of the institute must be ''preserved and saved''.

''We appeal to them tolook into the matter so that Dr Ramadoss does not succeed in his ill designs to turn AIIMS' autonomy into bureaucracy,'' he added.

Coming down heavily on Dr Ramadoss, IMA Secretary General said the Health Minister had tried to ensure his interference into the day-to-affairs of AIIMS .

''Dr Ramadoss has seemingly tried to settle his personal score with Dr Venugopal by encouraging his ouster,'' he added.

About the future course of action, he said the IMA was in touch with its state bodies and the next step will only be decided once their reactions were obtained.

Dr Aggarwal remained non-committal about the flash strike by AIIMS resident doctors and students, saying, ''it is a genuine and emotional reaction to the ouster of their teacher.'' He also urged intellectuals, parliamentarians, educationists and people from all walks of life to come together and support Dr Venugopal.

AIIMS Director P Venugopal was today dismissed by the institute's Governing Body, headed by Dr Ramadoss, for violating the code of conduct of the premier institute.

The decision came after a three-hour emergency meeting of the AIIMS Governing Body, presided over by Dr Ramadoss .

UNI