AIIMS will come up at apt location: Union minister

Thrissur: Union minister of state Suresh Gopi said on Thursday that the proposed All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) will be set up at the most-appropriate location in Kerala. Addressing questions from the media, he said that Kozhikode was not in the list of possible locations already submitted by the state govt.
When his attention was drawn to the reported demand of MP MK Raghavan to set up AIIMS in Kozhikode, he said Raghavan or anybody else has a right to make such demands.But a decision on AIIMS location must be finalized after taking into account the overall interest of Kerala, said Gopi, adding that he didn’t want to divulge the location he is considering.
Earlier, BJP activists gave a rousing reception to Gopi who visited his constituency, Thrissur, for the first time after becoming a central minister. Hundreds of party workers gathered at Thrissur railway station when he arrived from Kannur in the evening. He was offered garlands made of lotus flowers by the party workers.
From there, he proceeded to the Metropolitan Palace of the Church of the East to felicitate Metropolitan Mar Aprem, who celebrated his 84th birthday on Thursday. Metropolitan of Chaldean Syrian Church of the East in India, Mar Awgin Kuriakose was among those who received him. Subsequently, Gopi also offered prayers at Vadakkunnathan temple.
On Wednesday, Gopi had offered prayers at Thali Maha Shiva Temple at Kozhikode. He had also visited Mararji Bhavan, BJP district committee office before proceeding to Kannur.