Civil society blames it on Centre

Be it tweets or sloganeering on roads, there was palpable outrage against the Union and state governments. As much as they accused the two governments, the protesters echoed the need to bring education to the state list.

Even a few online surveys done by media suggested that the humble demonstrations against NEET could gain steam and it would affect the parties ruling the state and Centre. In hindsight, it might appear that the youths have not come out in large numbers, as did they for jallikattu, but a closer look would show that there is a simmering discontent against not only NEET, but there are veiled threats posed to social justice and federalism. For, the BJP and AIADMK have touched a raw nerve -social justice and regional autonomy, in simple terms, reservation and right to design state’s education system. It was not only the political, even representatives of literary and cinema world unleashed their frustration against the governments.

A vocal critic of the government and moviemaker Karu Palaniappan said, “We were called language fanatics during anti-Hindi agitation. Today, our Kannada brethren acknowledge that we ought to fight for linguistic rights. We were called sectarian in the past. Centre asks if we are unique. Hence, the cry against NEET when others have adopted it. That is why we have edged past other states in education and health infrastructure, in which TN is being emulated. Today, the BJP has started with NEET, tomorrow it will be reservation.”

BJP spokespersons had a hard time playing devil’s advocate since last evening as even a divided opposition went all guns blazing against PM Narendra Modi.

Writer and political commentator Aazhil Senthilnathan, who visited Kuzhumur, told DT Next, “The situation is like a silent, but active volcano. The resistance is for the Centre thrusting a new system on a state which has a system with some flaws. Congress realised it after 1965 anti-Hindi agitation and it is suffering till date. People would respond electorally to the BJP, which has completely curtailed its own growth. The issue has international examples too. History shows how Sri Lanka suffered after introducing standardization policy against Tamils.”

Mourners spoke as much about bringing education to state list as Anitha, Senthilnathan said, while narrating how the youth mourners had targeted Modi more than the Chief Minister.