By IANS

New Delhi : The resident doctors of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences here have decided to strike work beginning Thursday to protest the government's move to enact a law to ease out AIIMS director P. Venugopal from his position.

The doctors decided to cripple out-patient department (OPD) services Thursday after the AIIMS amendment bill was a given a green signal in the Rajya Sabha Wednesday. However, the emergency services would not be affected.

"We are suspending OPD services from Thursday in our protest against the bill. The OPD services would remain suspended till President Pratibha Patil signs it," said Kumar Harsh, president of the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of the institute.

"Clearance of the amendment would finally lead to the shutdown of the AIIMS. The AIIMS faculty association would hold a meeting Thursday afternoon to decide its future course of action," Kumar told reporters.

He alleged that it was a deliberate attempt made by Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss to oust Venugopal.