NEET 2021:  AIADMK Supports DMK Govt, Urges PM Modi To Cancel Exam

NEET 2021: Earlier, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin had urged PM Modi to abolish NEET and other similar examinations and allow Tamil Nadu government to fill the seats on the basis of the class 12 marks. 

NEET 2021. (File Photo)

NEET 2021: AIADMK top leader O Panneerselvam on Sunday backing the Chief Minister MK Stalin urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to scrap the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and other similar examinations in view of the covid-19 pandemic. 

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin had urged PM Modi to abolish NEET and other similar examinations and allow Tamil Nadu government to fill the seats on the basis of the class 12 marks. 

AIADMK leader in a letter to PM Modi said, "Till her death in 2016, late AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa had strongly opposed NEET and AIADMK government (2011-21) opposed it all along and two Bills were also adopted in the Assembly in 2017 but to no avail."

O Panneerselvam said that the examinations such as NEET make it difficult for social and economically marginalized students to pursue medical education. Sanctioning 11 medical colleges for Tamil Nadu, besides the AIIMS in Madurai and the decision to cancel the class 12 board examination amidst the ongoing covid-19 pandemic were well received and highly appreciated, he added. 

Earlier on June 5, the Tamil Nadu government canceled the TN class 12 board examination and has also constituted a panel of experts to come up with the objective criterion based on which the students of class 12 will be evaluated. 

Appealing to cancel the national level entrance examinations, Chief Minister had said, "Given, these circumstances, I am of the strong view that conducting national level entrance examinations for any professional course would be immensely detrimental to the health and well-being of students. I, therefore, urge you to cancel the conduct of all national level entrance examinations like NEET, as the same reasons adducted for canceling the Class 12th Board Examination are equally applicable to entrance exams. Our state may be allowed to fill all professional seats including M.M.B.S seats, on the basis of Class 12th marks alone, as we have always emphasized. I am sure that you would appreciate the fairness of my request, and will act upon it favorably," he emphasized.

(With inputs from PTI)