Central nod to start Bathinda AIIMS’ first batch at BFUHS

BATHINDA : The central government has given the go-ahead to start the first batch of MBBS course of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bathinda, at the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot, Union food processing industries minister and local MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal said.

In a press release issued on Sunday, Harsimrat said, “I received a communication from the Union health ministry that a Post Graduate Institute Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) team entrusted with the task found the varsity campus the most suitable for the purpose. The ministry has forwarded the recommendation to the Punjab government,” the Bathinda MP said. The first batch will have 50 students. With the AIIMS building in Bathinda to be completed by October this year, the classes will be shifted there next year. Harsimrat in December last year had written to chief minister Amarinder Singh requesting him to give the go-ahead for her proposal to start classes at the university.

“I mooted this proposal to ensure that those aspiring to get admission in the institute did not lose a year since the medical college building will be completed by October. As the university has requisite hostel and laboratory facilities, the Congress government in Punjab should not create any hindrance in starting the AIIMS batch,” she said.

The Bathinda district administration had suggested the names of Advanced Cancer Diagnostic and Research Centre, Guru Kashi University, Government Polytechnic at Jai Singh Wala village and Adesh University, all located in the district, for the purpose. The MP and Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal were also locked in to war of words over AIIMS last year with Harsimrat blaming the Congress government for deliberately delaying the work on the project. On the other hand, Manpreet blamed her for trying to take political mileage from the project.

› As the university has requisite hostel and laboratory facilities, Cong govt in Punjab should not create any hindrance in starting the AIIMS batch. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL , Bathinda MP