BJP lashes out at opposition over Neet

Chennai: BJP lashed out at opposition parties for “politicising” Neet (National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test) to serve their “selfish agenda” and said the government has taken steps to provide question papers in Tamil for students appearing for the test in centres outsides the state.

Contending that irregularities in the allocation of Neet centres for the medical college aspirants would not have taken place, Union minister of state for finance and shipping Pon Radhakrishnan said the Opposition parties “ignored 99 per cent of the good work and blew one per cent lapse, if any, to out of proportion.”

“In my view, allowing students to appear for the entrance test from the centres close to their homes or education institutions, without causing difficulties, would have been the ideal choice. Allotting centres outside Tamil Nadu could have been avoided. But allotment has been made taking into account the candidates’ choice. In certain places, the centres were identified outside the state. For such students we have taken efforts to give question papers in Tamil,” Mr Radhakrishnan said.

He told reporters in Kulashekaram in Kanyakumari district after participating in a function on Saturday, that certain political parties were politicising the issue.

“They merely criticise for the sake of opposing and issue statements faulting the government and avoid giving suggestions for improvement,” the minister said.
Expressing in similar vein, BJP state president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan said the examination centres were allotted according to students’ choice. “The candidates have been informed about the place of centres in February this year. So, the candidates are fully aware of the places from where they have to appear because it was their choice,” she said and flayed the opposition parties for making a hue and cry over the issue.

She claimed there has been 31 per cent increase in the number of candidates appearing for the eligibility test this year, indicating confidence reposed by the students on taking the test and expressed her best wishes to them.