AIIMS is in the news, again for wrong reasons. But this time, I think the health minister has taken things too far, thus proving that he is incapable of handling such issues. That an eminent person was sacked as head of such a prestigious institution unceremoniously smacks of the immaturity of this cabinet minister ( think we should call him sinister). When one reads various news items on the subject, he cant but feel sorry for the deposed director. The meeting did not have this as an agenda and the minister suddenly brings this in the agenda, asks the veteran to wait outside for an hour and at the end of it, says that he is sacked. This is certainly not the way to treat such a renowned cardiologist, who has served the institution for over 4 decades. He should have been given a chance to explain his stance, but was not given. That too, when an enquiry committee is set up to study the functioning of AIIMS. Agreed, there could be 2 opinions on whether the doctors can resort to strike leaving the patients stranded, for whatever reason it be, but that does not mean the director has to be sacked without being given a chance. After all, we are a democracy.

There are various reports that the minister has been consistantly interfering with the administration of this institute. The minister's party ( PMK) is known for its caste based politics in Tamilnadu and it seems he is trying to replicate the same at the national level. One only hopes that these m(s)inister designs are thwarted and the reputation of the institution is reclaimed. It is very surprising that these are allowed by the PM. It is time he take some tough stand against these ministers who do not seem to be in control of what they are doing.