NEET Aspirant Death 'Not Suicide It's Murder': Udhayanidhi At DMK Protest, Calls TN Guv 'RSS Ravi'

Udhayanidhi Stalin demanded that the Centre should abolish NEET, which, he alleged, was leading to the rise in suicide cases among students.

New Delhi: Hitting out at Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi over his opposition to the Bill seeking abolition of the National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test (NEET) in the state, DMK youth wing state secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin on Sunday said the former should change his name to ‘RSS Ravi’, news agency IANS reported.

Addressing a valedictory function at the one-day hunger strike staged by the DMK youth wing and doctors over the demand seeking exemption of the state from the central exam, he said the Governor has no role other than that of a “postman”, who should forward all matters approved by the state Assembly to the President.

Udhayanidhi Stalin also challenged the Governor to resign from his post and contest elections in Tamil Nadu, adding that even an ordinary DMK worker would win against him, IANS reported.

He further demanded that the Centre should abolish the competitive exam, which, he alleged, was leading to the rise in suicide cases among students. Slamming the government, he said the death of a NEET aspirant earlier this month was not suicide but "murder". NEET aspirant Jegadeeswaran from Chromepet died by suicide because he was unable to clear the exam for the past two years, ANI reported.  

Earlier this month, Governor Ravi had asserted that he would never clear the Bill and that the exam would stay.

“I am telling you very frankly, I will never give clearance to NEET (bill), let it be very clear. Anyway, it has gone to the President because it is a subject of Concurrent List, it is a subject which only the President is competent to give clearance to,” Governor Ravi had said.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister MK Stalin also emphasised the DMK’s efforts to abolish the exam in the southern state.

"This struggle will continue, DMK won't stop till NEET exemption is ensured. Whether or not in power, this movement is one that works for the people," CM Stalin said.

"The President should decide on the bill on the basis of Centre's advice. Only the President has the power, not the governor; he only has the job of a postman. he has to send what we sent," CM Staling was quoted as saying by PTI.  

Anti-NEET Hunger Strike A 'Drama': AIADMK's Palaniswami 

Ruling DMK and AIADMK engaged in a war of words over the NEET issue with DMK challenging the AIADMK to join it in a protest outside the Prime Minister's residence in New Delhi, while the Opposition said the exam came into existence during the Congress-led UPA regime.

“NEET was brought by Congress and DMK. Today's fast (by Udhayanidhi) is a big drama. Ahead of the 2021 (Assembly) elections, Stalin said the first signature if DMK would be voted to power will be regarding scrapping NEET, which Udhayandhi echoed. They are in their third year (of governance) now. What have you done?” PTI quoted AIADMK General Secretary K Palaniswami as saying.

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