J.V.R. Prasada Rao, additional secretary in-charge of service and programme in the Union Health ministry today said: ``The ministerial committee looking into the faculty's demands is likely to begin discussions on Monday. Any negotiations with doctors can be expected only then.'' Rao, who was the chairman of National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) till two days ago, said he was still new to the subject and expects to become a part of the process to end the strike from tomorrow.

Union HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, who has been entrusted with resolving the crisis and is out of the Capital, is expected back tomorrow. PM Atal Behari Vajpayee is also scheduled to return from a trip tomorrow.

Faculty association president S.K. Acharya however said he was yet to hear from the government. The last call he received was from Union Health Minister Dalit Ezhimalai a few days ago.

Faculty has been demanding implementation of the pay scales recommended by the Bakshi Committee, appointed by the Union Health Ministry. Despite assurances from the government, striking faculty members at AIIMS today threatened to intensify their indefinite agitation. The general body of the Faculty Association of AIIMS (FAIIMS) said their general body would meet here tomorrow to work out a strategy to make the agitation ``broad-based and to intensify it further''. He said the association has also written an open letter to the Prime Minister.