Tamil Nadu Congress President Manickam Tagore hit out at AIADMK and BJP over NEET, alleging that the exam has increased the pressure on students in the state. He challenged Palaniswami to get exemption from NEET for Tamil Nadu in front of BJP.
Chennai: The political controversy regarding the medical entrance examination NEET in Tamil Nadu has once again intensified. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president Manikkam Tagore has accused the AIADMK and BJP of ignoring the interests of the students of the state. He said that both the parties cannot escape the responsibility of the current crisis regarding NEET.
Manikkam Tagore targeted Palaniswami
Congress leader Manikkam Tagore met AIADMK general secretary and former chief minister Edappadi K. Targeting Palaniswami (EPS), he said that his party is blaming Congress for avoiding responsibility for the history of NEET implementation in Tamil Nadu. Tagore, in his statement on social media platform X, said that Tamil Nadu Assembly Minister Rajesh Kumar has clarified the position on NEET related issues.
According to Tagore, to understand the current situation regarding NEET in Tamil Nadu, it is important to pay attention to the events of the year 2017. He claimed that former Chief Minister J. NEET was not implemented in the state when Jayalalitha was alive. According to him, this examination was implemented in the state during the tenure of the Palaniswami-led government after the death of Jayalalitha.
The Congress leader alleged that the AIADMK government accommodated NEET in Tamil Nadu because of its coordination with the BJP-led government at the Centre. He said that after this the path of medical education became difficult for a large number of students who were dependent on the traditional state-level admission system.
Congress accuses AIADMK of shirking political responsibility
Tagore said that holding Congress responsible on NEET does not end the questions related to AIADMK's tenure. He alleged that AIADMK is now trying to present this issue related to its political history in a different way.
The Congress leader also said that his party has been advocating education related policies keeping in mind the interests of students coming from poor and ordinary families. Referring to Tamil Nadu's long-standing objection to NEET, he said that any education system should be tailored to the social and economic circumstances of the students.
Giving an example, Tagore said that shoes should be made according to the feet of the person, rather than trying to mold the feet into the shape of the shoe. According to him, the same principle applies to education and admission system also.
Congress also attacks BJP and NTA
The Tamil Nadu Congress president also raised questions on the role of the National Testing Agency (NTA) in the conduct of NEET. He alleged that by giving the responsibility of conducting examinations to NTA, the BJP government at the Center created such a system in which the influence of coaching institutes has increased.
Tagore also mentioned the NEET-related paper leak, alleged corruption and allegations of irregularities in the examination. He said that these incidents have put additional mental and financial pressure on students and their families preparing for the medical entrance examination.
However, different parties have had their own arguments on the allegations raised regarding NEET and the examination system. In such a situation, it is important to look at the allegations of political parties along with the stance of the parties concerned.
Issue of death of medical students also raised
In his statement, Tagore, while mentioning the long-running protest in Tamil Nadu regarding the medical entrance examination, said student S. The issue of death of those students including Anita was also raised, for whose death pressure related to NEET has been alleged to be responsible.
He claimed that the NEET system impacts students from economically weaker families the most, as the need for expensive coaching and additional preparation can become a big challenge for them.
The Congress leader accused the central government of defending the NEET system despite these concerns. He says that to ensure equal opportunities in medical education, the conditions of the states and their demands should also be given importance.
Mentioned Rahul Gandhi's promise
Manikkam Tagore also mentioned the political assurance of Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, in which it has been said that if the Congress government is formed, then it will be given relief to the states seeking exemption from NEET.
Tagore asked AIADMK leader Palaniswami whether he could get a commitment from his BJP ally to exempt Tamil Nadu from NEET. He also asked Palaniswami whether AIADMK can break away from the pressure of BJP and take a clear stand in the interest of the students of the state.
This statement of the Congress leader has come at a time when differences continue between political parties regarding NEET in Tamil Nadu. Medical entrance examination has long been a sensitive issue in state politics.
Why did NEET become a big political issue in Tamil Nadu?
NEET is a nationally conducted examination for admission to medical and dental courses in India. In Tamil Nadu, this examination has been opposed mainly on the grounds that the state's own school education system and social conditions cannot be fully assessed through a national level uniform entrance examination.
Opposing political parties say that students from rural areas and economically weaker families may be at a disadvantage in coaching-based competition. Supporters of NEET argue that a uniform national level examination helps ensure uniform standards and transparency in medical admissions.
From time to time, the Tamil Nadu government and various political parties have been demanding from the Center to exempt the state from NEET. This is the reason why examination has become not only a subject of education but also a major issue in the politics of the state.
Congress's attack on AIADMK-BJP alliance
Tagore also targeted the political alliance of AIADMK and BJP in his statement. He challenged Palaniswami and asked that if AIADMK really opposes NEET in the interest of students of Tamil Nadu, then it should take a clear and independent stand on the issue with the Central government.
He said that the question related to NEET for the students of Tamil Nadu should not be resolved through political allegations and counter-allegations, but through clear policy and concrete decisions.
On the other hand, the stand of AIADMK and BJP regarding NEET has been different from the allegations of Congress. Tagore's statement is therefore being seen as part of the broader political debate going on in Tamil Nadu.
Political conflict may continue further
The political tussle between Congress, DMK, AIADMK and BJP in Tamil Nadu regarding NEET is likely to continue. On one hand, there has been a demand for exemption from examination in the state, while on the other hand, emphasis has been laid on maintaining the national medical admission system at the central level.
Manikkam Tagore's latest statement has once again brought this debate to the political center stage. While the Congress has accused the AIADMK and the BJP of compromising the interests of students, the pro-NEET faction considers it necessary to have a uniform medical admission system at the national level. Now more sharp statements can be seen on this issue in the politics of Tamil Nadu in the coming days.