Chennai: The Assembly on Monday witnessed uproarious scenes over the Centre ‘rejecting’ the bills seeking exemption for Tamil Nadu from Neet. While turning down the DMK’s plea to pass a resolution in TN Assembly condemning the Centre over Neet, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami assured the next course of action would be decided only after consulting legal experts.
Raising the issue in the House, DMK president M. K. Stalin said the Assembly should pass a unanimous resolution condemning the Central government for rejecting the two bills passed by TN in 2017 demanding exemption to the state from the common entrance exam for medical admissions. “It’s painful to note that the Centre had submitted to the Madras high court (on Saturday) that it has rejected the two bills passed by the Assembly that were sent for President’s assent 27 months ago,” he said.
Responding , health minister Dr. C. Vijayabaskar, recounting how the state government managed to obtain a year’s exemption from Neet, said while pointing out to the Congress members in the House that the entrance examination was thrust on Tamil Nadu because Nalini Chidambaram, wife of former Union Minister, and Congress leader P. Chidambaram, support Neet.
The DMK, VCK, MDMK, Seeman's Naam Tamilar Katchi and Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam are among the 16 parties that have opposed the quota. Mr Stalin stoutly opposed the quota.
On July 2, when the Opposition parties raised the issue in the Assembly, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami assured that the State's 69 per cent quota policy will continue. However, the government will go by consensus on the Centre's proposal for 10 per cent quota for economically weaker sections (EWS) in medical education, he said.
Of the total 1,000 seats allotted to the state, 150 will be earmarked for all-India quota, while from the remaining 850 seats 264 will be allotted for open competition. Remaining 586 seats will be filled by 69 per cent reservation, he explained.
