MADURAI: Largescale public anger is brewing up in Madurai and other southern districts over the Tamil Nadu government’s move to shift the prestigious central government funded All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) from Madurai to Thanjavur.
Various organisations, trade bodies, residential associations and prominent persons in south Tamil Nadu comprising nine districts have come together and launched a mass movement named as ‘AIIMS for Madurai Makkal Iyakkam opposing the State government’s sudden choice of Thanjavur.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has extended its full support to this people’s movement and demanded that the Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami should withdraw the idea of shifting AIIMS from Madurai Thoppur to Thanjavur.
The just launched forum for AIIMS has called for a massive protest-cum-hunger strike on March 15th at Palanganatham in Madurai city to convey its anger and opposition.
Speaking to journalists on March 13 in Madurai, BJP Tamil Nadu State Secretary Prof.Dr.R.Srinivasan has said that there is no rationale or justification for the Tamil Nadu government’s choice of Thanjavur when already over 100 acres of land was allotted at Thoppur in Madurai after a thorough inspection by expert committee from the Centre when Ms.Jayalalithaa was the Chief Minister.
“What the Edappadi Palaniswami government is intending to do in the case of AIIMS is an injustice to people of southern districts in Tamil Nadu. Madurai has no central government institution at all and people have been waiting for AIIMS since it caters to nearly 2.5 crore people in southern districts which are far off from major hospitals. So, the BJP is demanding that the Chief Minister must reconsider his decision,” Dr.Srinivasan has said.
The BJP leader also pointed out that Madurai has good rail, road and air connectivity which are important for an all India institution such as AIIMS.
“Why should the Tamil Nadu government change its stand now and go for Thanjavur? I appeal to all political parties to join in this protest movement for AIIMS for the benefit of people in southern districts,” he added.
V.S.Manimaran of trade body MADITSSIA who is the chief convenor of this public movement said that since AIIMS is a multi-specialty hospital of international standards, it would be a boon for healthcare in southern Tamil Nadu. It also generates employment for local people.
“Former Chief Minister O.Paneerselvam did not ask for shifting. Importantly, Ms.Jayalalithaa chose only Madurai and allotted land for the hospital. The sudden decision now is a shock for all of us,” he added.
Mr.Manimaran also stated that Thanjavur is closer to JIPMER in Puducherry whereas southern districts are far off and hence Madurai alone will be the right place.
The members of ‘AIIMS for Madurai people’s movement’ have announced that the next course of action will be decided after the hunger strike in Madurai city on March 15.
C.M.Karthick Prabu, State secretary of BJP Traders’ Cell (Tamil Nadu) and representatives from various organisations were present.
