The move to sack AIIMS Director P Venugopal drew sharp reaction at a meeting of a Parliamentary Committee which deplored the action, and several members attacked the style of functioning of Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss.

A resolution adopted at the meeting on Friday of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, headed by Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, "deplored" the decision of the institute's governing council which recommended the ouster of Venugopal and requested the government to find a solution.

Committee sources said senior Congress leader A K Antony as also party member of Parliament Sukhbans Kaur were party to the resolution asking the government to find a solution in the larger interest of suffering people.

Janata Dal-United leader Digvijay Singh even recalled that the late prime minister Indira Gandhi [Images] had once said among people who needed to be respected in the country include Venugopal, a renowned cardiologist.

Besides Amar Singh, who presided, those who spoke on the issue included Bharatiya Janata Party MPs Maneka Gandhi and Uday Singh, who were critical over the interference of the minister in the functioning of AIIMS.

Only one member Karan Singh Yadav of Congress dissociated himself due to clash of interests as he was member of the council, which decided to recommend the dismissal of Venugopal.

Sources said though the meeting was called to discuss the Medical Council of India Bill pending before it, the AIIMS issue was raised by some members and the issue saw "heated discussion" for almost one hour.