Amid a tussle between the government and Governor in Tamil Nadu over National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET), Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan vouched for NEET-based admission for medical courses in the country. The Lt Governor also urged the political parties to not mislead students on NEET. After inspecting the facilities at Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital, Tamilisai said that as a doctor she understands the importance and inevitability of selecting students for medical education through NEET.
She said, "It is a step in the right direction. More than others, I as a doctor can say that NEET is absolutely necessary."
Tamilisai questioned why there should be objection in selecting students for medical education through NEET when IAS officers are selected through Civil service examination.
The Lt Governor also urged people opposed to the NEET to refrain from participating in such a campaign since it would mislead children. She said that students from low-income families were succeeding in entrance exams and enrolling in medical programmes through NEET.
To the question on the demand for statehood to Puducherry, Tamilisai said that the resolution adopted for statehood in Puducherry was sent to the Centre a few months ago. She then went on to criticise the previous Congress government for failing to reportedly take steps for getting statehood for Puducherry.
"The same party (Congress) was in power both at the Centre and in Puducherry in the past. But nothing was done to get statehood to the Union Territory," she said.
The Lt Governor declared that she was carrying out her responsibilities keeping in mind the purpose of welfare of the people. "I would only ask those who are critical of my work to hold off on making such baseless claims," she said.
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