TN’s DMK holds hunger strike demanding abolition of NEET

President of the ruling political party DMK and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M K Stalin on Sunday assured all efforts to ensure NEET exemption for the state, as his son and cabinet minister Udhayanidhi led a day-long hunger strike demanding the abolition of the test.

The agitation seeking to do away with the central qualifying test for medical courses won’t stop with Sunday’s protest, Udhayanidhi stressed, adding the party would even stage demonstrations in Delhi. The opposition BJP, meanwhile, slammed the DMK for “politicising” NEET.

Hitting out at R N Ravi, Stalin also criticized TN’s governor, who recently said he would never sign in Favor of the state’s controversial anti-NEET bill if it were up to him. The bill is currently with the President for her assent. The Centre has not heeded TN’s request against NEET.

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DMK’s hunger strike was held throughout the state except in the temple city of Madurai, where the protest will be held on August 23. Prominent Indian regional political party AIADMK was holding a massive state conference in Madurai that day.

DMK’s growing opposition against NEET comes in line with its generally harsh stance against entrance examinations for professional courses. The party stresses NEET is against social justice, insisting it favours urban students and those having access to coaching centres.

The hunger strike came against a backdrop of a recent suicide of an aspirant. Reiterating his party’s opposition against the test, Stalin recalled medical admissions earlier considering Class 12 scores and that it benefited all deserving candidates irrespective of their community status.