NEW DELHI: Minutes after the Delhi High Court stayed his removal, a belligerent AIIMS Director P Venugopal said he will not compromise on the dignity of the institute and continue fighting for its autonomy.

"I am looking forward to maintaining the autonomy and dignity of the institute for which I have always fought," Venugopal said but added that he could ignore the personal humiliation meted out to him for a while.

Questioned about Health Minister Ambumani Ramdoss' charge that he went public with his grievances, the renowned cardiologiost said, "ask him who went public? He has himself gone public before me."

"I have never gone public on what happened before my faculty and students," he said.

Asked whether he would complete his full term, he said, "let us see. That is a bigger point. Let me discuss with my counsel."