NEET: Opposition upset over government’s reply walks out

Leader of Opposition MK Stalin, who flayed the state government for its failure to get the Presidential assent for the legislations, said that the Centre’s attitude of withholding the files from Tamil Nadu seeking exemption from the NEET was against the federal structure of the country. Stalin advised the ruling party to exert pressure on Centre to clear the NEET exemption files in exchange for the support to Venkaiah Naidu in the vice-presidential polls. 

Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar, who intervened, said that Tamil Nadu was the only state that vehemently opposed the NEET, while other states had already agreed to it. “We are going to Delhi on Wednesday to exert pressure on the Centre in this regard”, he informed the House. 

Deputy Leader of Opposition Durai Murugan demanded the state to own up responsibility for its failure to get Presidential nod and tender resignation. Vijaya Baskar reiterated that the state was committed to the future of students and was making efforts through both political and legal channels in this regard. The minister also rapped the DMK for making misleading statements on the NEET issue. 

Leader of the House KA Sengottaiyan, in his speech, wondered as to why the DMK did not resign when it was part of the UPA which introduced the NEET. Amid ruckus, the Opposition including DMK, Congress and IUML staged a walk out expressing dissatisfaction over the Minister’s explanation on NEET issue. 

Speaking to reporters outside the House, Stalin observed that the state government had lost a big opportunity to impress upon the Centre to get the presidential nod for the legislations seeking exemption from NEET.