NEET: Stalin raps Centre, TN govt

Addressing a gathering in Tiruchy on Saturday, DMK working president and Leader of Opposition MK Stalin hit out at the Centre and the state government and held them responsible for the death of the Dalit teenager who committed suicide after failing to secure good scores in NEET.

The gathering was organised amid high drama after the Supreme Court directed that no agitations should be carried out against NEET in Tamil Nadu.

“Although the court does not prevent public meetings, the BJP and the state government tried their best to stop the meeting. But this is a meeting for social justice, something that both the Centre and the State are intent on crushing,” said Stalin. 

He also said that they would intensify their protests from September 13 but follow the directives of the apex court. Stalin condemned the Centre and State for the death of 17-year-old Anitha whose dreams of becoming a doctor was shattered after NEET was implemented for medical admission. He pointed out that the 2017 NEET results revealed that out of first 25 spots, 18 were secured by North Indian students and seven south Indian students but even among them no one was from Tamil Nadu. 

He claimed that the State board students were given questions from CBSE and so they could not perform well at the NEET exam. Stalin also shot back at the BJP for allegedly saying that the quality of education in Tamil Nadu is poor. “Are they aware of the standard of Stanley Medical College and Madras Medical college or even Madras University?” he asked.  

The Leader of Opposition stated that Chennai is the Medical capital of India and has world renowned doctors. “Did they complete NEET? Have the doctors who attend to the BJP functionaries cleared NEET?” he asked. 

He then listed out a list of questions that he wanted the BJP to answer as they also held a meeting at a nearby spot on Saturday. He asked them about the status of special ordinance passed in the Assembly. He also asked to clarify about BJP’s promise of solving fishermen issue, farmers issue and abolishing of black money. 

“You must answer each question with your conscience or else the people will not forgive you,” said Stalin.