Chennai: DMK working president M. K. Stalin has appealed to non-BJP Chief Ministers of south, besides Mamata Banerjee, to oppose National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Neet) for MBBS courses, claiming it puts the rural students at a “fundamental disadvantage.”
“I urge the Chief Ministers @CMOKerala @CMofKarnataka @TelanganaCMO @AndhraPradeshCM @CMPuducherry @MamataOfficial to oppose the Neet exam as it puts rural and economically weaker students at a fundamental disadvantage,” he tweeted on Tuesday.
In another tweet, he said, “the discrepancies in the translated Neet question papers have discriminated against non-Hindi speaking students. I urge all Chief Ministers of non-BJP ruling states to join together in opposing this unfair test on this ground also. #NeetKillsPradeeba #BanNeet.”
Later, in a statement, he criticised the NDA government for introducing Neet in India. “The Centre has deceived Tamil Nadu by not exempting the state students from Neet. The AIADMK government is also weak to oppose the exam,” Mr. Stalin alleged while mourning the death of Prathiba of Villupuram district. Atleast now the Centre must give importance to the bills seeking exemption from Neet for Tamil Nadu students, said Mr. Stalin who later paid homage to the deceased girl at her house and handed over Rs. 2 lakh from the DMK fund to the family.
Meanwhile, BJP state president Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan argued that Neet was “beneficial” for the rural students, and advised that students who failed to make the cut should explore the “next big” choice and not commit suicide. Flaying the political parties for misleading the students and parents on Neer, the BJP chief called upon political parties not to paint a “bleak” picture about Neet.
Tamil film ‘superstar’ Rajinikanth termed the suicide of medical college aspirant Prathiba of Villupuram as “pitiable” and said such incidents should not recur.
TNCC chief Su Thirunavukkarasar exhorted students not to resort to such a drastic measure. He demanded the Centre and State governments to
compensate Prathiba’s family by providing 'one crore.
