After the resignation of the Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, following the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests in New Delhi, demands for a complete ban on the NEET examination are now emerging in Tamil Nadu.
Protests led by Left-wing students organises like AISF and AIYF were held in the state, demanding a total ban on the medical entrance examination. During the protests, several protestors turned aggressive and clashed with police personnel today (26th July).
Speaking to the media, Manirathnam, the brother of a student named Anitha, who died by suicide after failing to secure a medical seat under the NEET framework, also called for a ban on the examination. He said the President should give assent to Tamil Nadu’s NEET exemption Bill.
“Our demand is directed at the Union Government: ban NEET and obtain the President’s assent for the Tamil Nadu Assembly’s NEET exemption Bill. We also request the Tamil Nadu government to continue taking steps on this issue…,” Manirathnam said.
The calls for a ban on the prestigious examination also found support from the state government, as Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar claimed that the abolition of the NEET examination is the only solution.
“This resignation alone is not the solution. Definitely, it is the result of the peaceful protest by the students… But this resignation alone is not the solution for what we are asking. All of us wanted to ban NEET, and we don’t want NEET. Education should not be with the central premises; all the rights should be transferred to the state premises… With this resignation, they should not subsidise other records and banning NEET will be the long-term solution. It is a victory for students, and definitely we welcome it…” CTR Nirmal Kumar said.
Kumar also said that the subject of education should fall within the purview of the jurisdiction of states and not the Centre. Notably, Tamil Nadu has been opposing NEET since 2017, and has also passed a Bill in the Legislative Assembly to exempt the State from the examination.