SC/ST students threatened in AIIMS: PMAF

New Delhi, Sep 14 (UNI) The AIIMS Progressive Medicos and Scientists' Forum (PMAF), which recently reported a complaint of caste discrimination, today alleged that SC/ST students are being threatened in the institute and pressurised to take back their complaint.

''Students have been threatened to step back or face the wrath of their peers'....AIIMS, the premier institute of the country is itself suffering from a malignant disease called caste-hatred,'' PMAF spokesperson Ajay Kumar Singh said.

He alleged that the institute management has not taken any concrete action on the complaint, filed in Director P Venugopal's office on September 8, and no efforts had been made to form the Students' Grievances Cell.

''The unofficial committee under Dr T D Dogra has been a mere eyewash.... It has been trying to force a compromise rather that investigate and dispense justice,'' he added.

Coming down heavily on the institute management, Mr Singh alleged that the administration was ''patronisig'' caste discrimination in the world renowned healthcare institute and it was impossible to ensure security for minorities in AIIMS.

''Since the anti-quota agitation we are facing a lot of problems even the elections to the Resident Doctors' Association were fought on this plan.... AIIMS was never like this,'' he said, while accusing the Youth for Equality, which spearheaded the anti-quota agitation, of running a campaign against SC/ST students.

Claiming that the committee has been ''highly unsympathetic'' towards the SC/ST students, the PMAF spokesperson said the ''trend'' shows a bias prevailing in the administration.

''Contrary to the norm, the names of the complainants have been made public which has jeopardized our struggle,'' he added.

''Such unconstitutional behaviour could not be expected from the elite office of the Director. Almost a week has passed without action which has allowed the guilty to employ pressure tactics,'' Mr Singh alleged.

Members of the Forum and some faculty members staged a silent protest in the institute and is demanding a transparent and impartial inquiry into the complaints of the students.

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