Thambidurai hits out at Centre again over NEET, CMB

Speaking to reporters in Karur, he said, “Tamil Nadu does not need NEET. We will continue to seek exemption from the national test.”  He said the Centre had imposed NEET based on the Supreme Court verdict. “It will be proper for a state government to decide the number of medical and engineering seats,” he added. 

Coming out with another charge against the BJP government, he said the upcoming Assembly elections in Karnataka could be a reason for the Union government for delaying the formation of the Cauvery Management Board. 

Meanwhile, opposing the  NEET, DMDK leader Vijayakanth said it is necessary to ensure that poor children in the state study by paying lower fees. Inaugurating a sweet shop in Ambattur, the actor said poor children could not study by paying Rs 50 lakh.

Taking the middle path, MDMK general secretary Vaiko said Union Human Resources Development Minister Prakash Javdekar should fulfil his earlier promise that NEET would be held on the basis of state syllabus. 

He also urged the Centre to take action to avoid the irregularities in the examination. He said students from other states joined in medical colleges in Tamil Nadu by producing dual nativity certificate. An enquiry panel set up by the Madras High Court found out that 1,269 persons had been admitted in medical colleges here through such malpractices. Such irregularities had deprived deserving students from the state from obtaining seats, he said. 

Meanwhile, a confederation of medical students and law students met Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and School Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan and presented memorandums seeking permanent exemption from NEET. Director Gowthaman, who led the delegation, said, “The Centre had junked both the Bills.” Both the Ministers have assured that they would take up the issue and would do everything in their ambit in this regard,” he added.