AIADMK backs State government to cancel NEET
A day after Chief Minister M K Stalin urged Modi to cancel all national level tests like NEET and allow Tamilnadu to fill professional seats, including the MBBS, based on class 12 marks, AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam backed the DMK government’s position.
Till her death in 2016, late AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa had strongly opposed NEET and AIADMK government (2011-21) opposed it all along and two Bills were also adopted in the Assembly in 2017 but to no avail, Panneerselvam said in a letter to Modi.
Listing the difficulties faced by Tamilnadu students, especially those belonging to socially and economically backward groups, he said there is a need for separate coaching to take the test since it is modelled on NCERT-CBSE curriculum and they cannot afford the fee charged by coaching centres.
Introduction of NEET has made it difficult for aspirants from the marginalised communities in Tamil Nadu to pursue medical education, he said.
Sanctioning 11 medical colleges for TN in recent times, besides the AIIMS in Madurai and cancellation of the 12th class CBSE board examination were well received and highly appreciated, Panneerselvam, popularly known as OPS, said.
Similarly, OPS, a former Chief Minister and also Deputy CM requested Modi,”to take a uniform policy decision to abolish not only the NEET for enrolment in medical courses but also the common entrance examinations for all the professional and other courses forever. The Centre should allow states to make admission based on the marks obtained by students in their higher secondary examination and ”for which act of kindness, the people of Tamilnadu will ever be grateful to you,” the AIADMK leader said.