Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is in a quandary: some persons are approaching medical and dental colleges, promising approval and recognition for their course and claiming that they are close to the Congress leader. They are not, and hence the problem.

Azad has been forced to write a letter of clarification to not only deans of such colleges but also to MPs and MLAs. Here is the letter, ad verbatim:

Dear Sir

It has come to my notice that some persons who are proclaiming themselves to be close to me, are approaching various medical colleges dental colleges promising them approval recognition of their colleges for both undergraduation and post-graduate courses for the year 2010-11.

I would like to categorically inform you that I have not authorised any individual organisation to approach any medial dental college authorities on my behalf or on behalf of my office for such permissions.

If anybody approaches you on my behalf or on behalf of my office or the Ministry or for that matter MCI and DCI please feel free to call me on my office/residential phones or inform through a confidential fax or email indicating the name and other details of the persons so that I can take appropriate action against that individual.

I once again reiterate that I want to maintain absolute transparency in the functioning of my ministry.

If any college authority entertains such middlemen or brokers it will be viewed seriously and I would not hesitate to take stringent and stern action including withdrawal of the recognition/debarring from admitting a new batch of students for a year or two.

Yours