Chennai: The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday said the opposition to NEET is an “all-India issue” now and sounded confident of seeing a “good result,” vis-a-vis its possible abolition, on a day when top Tamil actor Vijay backed an Assembly resolution against the central qualifying test piloted by the government recently.
The DMK’s students’ wing held a protest demanding the abolition of NEET, even as Opposition AIADMK and BJP hit out at the ruling party for “misleading people” and enacting a “drama” over the issue.
NEET has been a sensitive issue in Tamil Nadu as scores of medical aspirants have died allegedly by suicide over the past few years, either over failing the exam or fears of unable to crack it. All major political parties, including the DMK and the AIADMK have been opposed to NEET.
DMK has been opposing NEET for long, claiming it was against social justice and state’s rights. It wants marks secured in the class 12 exams to be the criteria for medical admissions.
The DMK protest, titled “No More NEET” was led by the party’s Students Wing Secretary and Kancheepuram MLA, CVMP Ezhilarasan. The protesters were clad in black.
DMK Organistion Secretary R S Bharathi addressed the protesters. The agitation comes days after the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed yet another resolution, seeking NEET exemption to the state.
In his address at the protest venue, Bharathi said the DMK has been opposing NEET ever since it was introduced and that it could not “enter into Tamil Nadu” during the days of late party president and former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. So was the case when late AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa ruled the state.
Later, speaking to reporters, he said all the people have started realising that DMK’s decision to oppose NEET “is a good one.” “Earlier, DMK alone was talking about NEET, today all the parties are talking. (Actor) Vijay has also voluntarily extended support to our resolution.” “This is an all-India issue. There will be a good result. Last time it was different, this time the Parliament is different, there will be changes,” he said in an apparent reference to a stronger opposition in the Lok Sabha that could press for NEET abolition.
“The people of Gujarat can clearly see through their lies and will teach the BJP government a decisive lesson. I am saying it again — INDIA is going to win in Gujarat!” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
Several workers and leaders from both sides were detained from the spot in the Paldi area after the violent clash and stone pelting, a city police control room official said.
While the BJP accused Congress workers of attacking a “peaceful protest,” opposition leaders blamed BJP cadres for initiating the violence.
Both parties claimed their workers were injured in the incident and they will lodge complaints with police.
Local TV channel visuals showed party workers from both sides thrashing each other outside Congress’ Gujarat headquarters, Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan.
Some individuals were seen throwing stones at each other, even as police attempted to intervene.
“BJP workers attacked Congress office out of frustration a day after Rahul Gandhi said all religions preach non-violence and there is no place for violence. They staged a protest without any permission from police and attacked us, which is a testimony to the collapse of law and order in Gujarat,” Gujarat Congress working president Himmatsinh Patel alleged.
