BJP slams Ramadoss, asks PM to resolve
AIIMS impasse

Flaying Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss's attempt to pass on the blame for the delay in issuance of degrees to AIIMS Director V Venugopal, the BJP on Wednesday asked the Prime Minister to intervene in favour of the agitating doctors.

"The Health Minister has consistently tampered with the smooth functioning of AIIMS to satisfy his ego. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should rein in his maverick Minister and not allow him to ruin an institution of national importance," senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said.

The BJP's strong reaction came after Ramadoss told mediapersons that he had refused to sign the certificates because these were issued by a person whose appointment had not been sanctioned by the AIIMS governing body.

Justifying his not signing the certificates, Ramadoss also took the plea that no convocation had been held in AIIMS for the last two years.

Rubbishing the Minister's explanations as "lame excuses", the BJP leader pointed out that undue delay in issuing degrees was creating hardships for AIIMS resident doctors who had to submit these to foreign universities for admission by September.

"There have been several occasions when degrees have been issued without a convocation being held. The plea that the certificates were "illegal" was also untenable because there was no disputing the fact that the students had passed their examinations," she said.

Sushma added that the latest act of Ramadoss should be seen as a continuation of his long-standing tussle with the AIIMS director and his persistent attempts to undermine the autonomy of the prestigious educational institution.

"Governments have come and gone but no one has so far tried to interfere with the day-to-day functioning of AIIMS. But under Ramadoss, the UPA Government is meddling in the day-to-day working of an institution which has been declared of national importance by Parliament of India," she added.

In his attempt to shift the blame for the delay, which had led to a strike by AIIMS resident doctors since Tuesday, the Minister admitted that he had received a bunch of certificates for signature but had written back to the Director saying the certificates were "illegal" and should be signed by the "legally appointed Registrar".

"The issue of certificates is going to be resolved shortly. In the last two years, AIIMS had not had a convocation. It is very, very unfortunate that the premier institute did not have a convocation where degrees are given by an Act of Parliament," he said.

Putting the onus on the director for rectifying the situation, the Minister said the task of getting his signature appended to the certificates lies "squarely" with the director.

He said the director should take "necessary action for holding the convocation within one month" so that the degrees can be awarded to the successful candidates without further delay.