New Delhi: Doctors and medical students supporting sacked All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director P Venugopal, on Wednesday, went on a strike to protest his removal from the post.
Within minutes of his dismissal, all services, including the emergency, in the premier institute came to a grinding halt.
"We have declared a strike. Resident doctors, students, scientists and faculty members have all gone on strike to protest the decision," said a representative of the AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association, Dr Vinod Patra.
Resident doctors and students of University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS), Maulana Azad Medical College and Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital of New Delhi have also decided to observe a one-day token strike on Thursday in protest against Dr Venugopal's ouster.
"We will observe a symbolic strike and will chalk out the future course of action on Thursday evening," said Neha Gandhi, a representative of Resident Doctors' Association of MAMC.
Dr Venugopal was dismissed by the institute's Governing Body, headed by Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, for violating the code of conduct of the premier institute.
The protestors said that the decision to sack Venugopal was proof of the autocratic style of functioning of the Health Ministry. They also refused to accept any other person in Dr Venugopal's place.
Doctors and students supporting Venugopal gathered outside the office of Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss in the hospital premises and removed his nameplate. Ramadoss is also president of AIIMS.
The protestors also removed the nameplate of the Minister's officer on special duty, D S Murthy from his office, also in the hospital premises.
They demanded immediate reinstatement of Venugopal and a due apology from the Health Minister for his actions. Sources say that the strike is expected to continue till Dr Venugopal is reinstated.
(With agency inputs)
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