CM MK Stalin Slams President’s Rejection Of Tamil Nadu’s Anti-NEET Bill; Calls It A ‘Dark Chapter In Federalism’ (VIDEO) | (Photo Courtesy: ANI)
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, on Thursday, April 3, announced at the State Assembly that the President has rejected a bill seeking an exemption from the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).
The Bill, which aims to make medical admissions solely based on Class 12 marks, was passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly in 2021 and re-adopted in 2022 after initial objections from the Governor.
Have a look at his entire statement here:
During his address, CM Stalin expressed his disappointment over the Union government’s decision, claiming that the NEET system has made medical education inaccessible to rural students who can’t afford the access to costly coaching and it only benefits the urban students. He added that under the current system, medical dreams have become “unreachable” for many students in rural areas.
CM Stalin further explained how after the DMK came to power, a high-level committee led by Justice AK Rajan gathered public opinion across Tamil Nadu and gave recommendations opposing NEET. “Following this, an all-party meeting was held, and a Bill against NEET was passed for the second time in the Tamil Nadu Assembly and sent to the President for assent through the Governor,” he added.
He further noted that despite the Tamil Nadu government’s efforts to clarify the state’s position to various ministries, the Union government has now rejected the request for exemption from NEET. Called this rejection a “dark chapter in federalism,” CM Stalin accused the Centre of disregarding the will of the Tamil Nadu people and the resolutions of the State Assembly.
However, he assured that the fight against NEET would continue. “The Union government may have rejected Tamil Nadu’s request, but our fight to abolish the NEET system is far from over,” Stalin added. He also revealed that the state government would approach legal experts to explore lawful measures to challenge this decision.
As per reports, an all-party meeting has been scheduled for April 9 to consider the next steps in the ongoing battle against NEET. CM Stalin has called upon leaders of all legislative parties to participate in the meeting.
