Setback for DMK Government, What Stalin Said

The DMK government in Tamil Nadu faced a setback regarding the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) exam. The President of India, Draupadi Murmu, rejected Tamil Nadu's request to exempt the state from NEET. This announcement was made by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in the state assembly on Friday.

Stalin stated that despite their government's detailed explanations, the central government refused to withdraw NEET. He also made it clear that Tamil Nadu would continue its fight on this issue. As part of their next course of action, the government has decided to hold a special meeting with all parties on the 9th of this month to discuss the future steps.

Tamil Nadu has been protesting against NEET for a long time. Issues like the leakage of NEET question papers and the inability of many candidates to clear the exam have led to tragic incidents, including suicides. This has become a serious concern in the state, especially since students who cannot afford coaching are facing severe hardships. There is a widespread belief that NEET has turned into a curse for these students, and the demand for social justice has fueled the ongoing protests against the exam.

In response, the Tamil Nadu government proposed a bill to allow medical admissions based on 12th-grade marks instead of NEET. However, this bill has been pending since 2021-22. Last year, in June, the Tamil Nadu government passed a resolution to abolish NEET and sent it to the central government, but there has been no positive response from the center.

Regarding the recent setback, Stalin said in the assembly that the southern state had been insulted once again. He added, "The center may reject Tamil Nadu's request, but our fight will not stop. We will consult legal experts and consider challenging this decision," Stalin declared.