Expecting good news on NEET: Health Minister

Led by Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, Vijaya Baskar and Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday, and impressed upon him the state’s stand on NEET. Sources said the Minister on Monday had three back-to-back meetings with Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh, and sought their support. 

The delegation also had a consultation at Thambidurai’s office with Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan participating in it. “We are making consistent efforts to secure permanent exemption from NEET. The state will continue to strive for its students”, Thambidurai said.

“We have been meeting Union Ministers and explaining to them why it is necessary for the state. The Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is fully aware of the state’s stand on NEET. We are taking efforts to steer clear of the legal impediments in the issue. We are also mulling the option of approaching the Supreme Court as our orders apportioning 85 per cent reservation for State Board students had been struck down by the court,” Vijaya Baskar said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the I-T department reportedly froze bank accounts of Rasi Blue Metals, owned by Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar and his family located at Thiruvenkai Vasal in the Pudukkottai district on Tuesday following the documents confiscated at the quarry site when the surprise raid was carried out on April 7 and 11 this year. 

Sources said that Rasi Blue Metals was registered under SA Subbiyah, Karadikkadu near Annavasal, a close associate of the minister. As information reached here, security personnel of the Rasi Blue Metals refused to permit any lorry to the quarry till Tuesday evening. All members of Vijaya Baskar’s family were also reportedly away from their house since Tuesday morning. 

Reacting to the developments, Vijaya Baskar said that his properties in Pudukkottai had been attached and that he had recieved notice from the I-T department by post about a week ago. “It is a routine process and it will remain attached until the tax details are cleared. The officials are just doing their job,” he said.