Tamil Nadu: Political parties gear up for Neet exemption protests

Chennai: With the end of the Assembly session, most of the political parties in the state have begun focusing on Neet exemption for Tamil Nadu students.

A day after DMK working president M.K. Stalin announced a human chain protest demanding approval for the state's Neet exemption bill, its ally Congress, besides the CPI and VCK, assured their participation in the protest. CPI(M) chose to keep away from DMK agitations and organise picketing protests in front of central government offices. The PMK held a fast under the leadership of its youth wing leader Anbumani Ramadoss who lashed out at the state government while soft-pedalling on the centre's role on it.

TNCC president S. Thirunavukkarasar who expressed support to the DMK protest said the voice of the state is being ignored by the BJP government and its sentiments are being demeaned. He expressed the wish that the human chain protest should become a huge success and said the mass protests should pressurise the centre to get President's nod for Neet exemption. "Why are the state's bill kept pending in the home department without being sent to the President?" he asked.

CPI state secretary R. Mutharasan said the Centre had kept the state government's Neet exemption bill pending since February in a deliberate manner. Describing it as an onslaught against social justice, he charged the BJP government with acting with an objective of stopping the progress of Tamil Nadu students. The state government had failed to get the nod for NEET exemption using the Presidential elections, he said and added that his party would join the human chain protest.

Expressing his support, VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan said his party would take part in the human chain protest and alleged that Neet is an attempt to bring education under the centre's control. He hit out the centre and said the BJP government is betraying Tamil Nadu students and the state government is abetting the  centre's activities.

However, CPI(M) chose to protest separately and announced picketing protests in front central government offices on July 28. State secretary G.Ramakrishnan alleged that the centre is adamantly refusing to grant exemption for Tamil Nadu from Neet.

Why should Tamil Nadu spend for medical education of other states: Anbumani
Pointing out that Tamil Nadu is spending Rs 1 crore to coach a medical student in government colleges and asked how could students from other states who don't spend on medical education take away those seats under the guise of  Neet.

Reviving the theme of the Dravidian parties in the 50s which used to speak of North Indians exploiting Tamil Nadu in the name of Indian unity, Anbumani said, "We will spend our people's money, build quality medical institutions. You will come from states like Bihar, take our seats under Neet, study and go back to your state. Why should we run such institutions and spend our people’s money for you? What will happen to the government hospitals in Tamil Nadu? Who will treat our rural people?", he asked, before concluding a fast in the city.

He also explained that the PMK is not opposing the Dravidian ideology of E.V.R. Periyar and it is only opposed to the Dravidian parties which do not follow Periyar's ideology. Periyar continued to be one of the icons of the PMK, he stressed.

However, he trained his guns, less on the BJP but lashed out the state government for failing to secure President's nod for the Neet exemption bill. He said the state government could not exert pressure on the centre and added that the PMK would have stopped the functioning of Parliament if it had 37 MPs.

Lashing out at health minister C. Vijayabaskar, he said the minister should know if his job is to sell gutka or protect the medical education of Tamil Nadu students. Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami is sure that his party could not win even a single councillor seat in Tamil Nadu in future and the BJP too could not win seats in Tamil Nadu. So, the two parties, which have no future in Tamil Nadu are not worried about the concerns and welfare of Tamil Nadu, Anbumani charged. 

He called upon youth to hold a jallikattu like protest, against Neet to end such an examination in the state.

PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss addresses party members at the one-day hunger strike against Neet in front of state guest house on Friday.