The DMK government, which had previously pledged to abolish the NEET entrance exam if elected, has now revised its position. Addressing the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin admitted, “We cannot abolish NEET; only the Central Government has the power to do so.” His statement came during a debate initiated by AIADMK General Secretary and Opposition Leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
This is what those who oppose the DMK have been saying for all these years but it is only now that this basic fact of the matter has dawned upon him.
Starting from Anitha’s death, the DMK and its ecosystem went on an overdrive to portray NEET as a demon. Actors like Suriya virtue-signalled and did their bit to peddle false propaganda about the exam and confusing students about NEET. They continued to peddle anti-NEET propaganda despite clarifications that it is a professional exam mandated by the Supreme Court and only the Central Government has the authority to bring in any legislation regarding the same.
This article aims to uncover how the DMK misled the people of Tamil Nadu with false promises to abolish NEET, creating undue pressure on students. In some tragic cases, this false promise pushed students to such extreme despair that they took their own lives.
Promise In Manifesto
The DMK, as per their manifesto promise number 160, pledged to abolish the NEET upon coming into power.
“Once DMK comes to power, a law will be passed to abolish NEET in the first Assembly session and steps will be taken to acquire the President’s assent for the law,” the manifesto reads in Tamil.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and his son Udhayanidhi Stalin had also conducted extensive campaigns across the state, emphasizing that their initial action would be to cancel NEET.
But nothing was done for a month with the government also faced with battling the second wave of COVID-19. After the exam notification was released, the Stalin government formed a committee under Justice AK Rajan. It was alleged that more than 80,000 feedback were received against the exam.
Health Minister Ma. Subramanian had started hinting a couple of weeks ago that it would not be possible for them to scrap NEET. The Health Minister started appealing to students to prepare for NEET this year and that adequate coaching be given to them through the School Education Department.
MK Stalin
“Very soon, once the DMK regime dawns in Tamil Nadu, I assure that we will dedicate ourselves to cancel this NEET exam legally and will emerge victorious. I assure you that the DMK will continue to lead the protest. You fell at people’s feet to get the post. Why can’t you beg the Governor? You need not fall at his feet. Can’t you atleast ask him sternly? Is it fair for you to sit in the CM’s chair? “, MK Stalin had said during a campaign against the AIADMK in the lead up to the 2021 Assembly elections.
After becoming Chief Minister, MK Stalin in March 2022 said that NEET cancellation was his immediate goal.
He even formed the AK Rajan Committee (an eye-wash) which released a report laden with empty rhetoric and making unsubstantiated inferences through selective usage and willful omission of data.
Udhayanidhi Stalin
Udhayanidhi Stalin while speaking at an event arranged on behalf of the Chennai East District DMK in September 2020 said “When DMK comes to power, the NEET exam will definitely be canceled. We know how to cancel the NEET exam, the leader knows. The rulers are asking us to tell them the secret of how we will cancel it. There is only one secret. All they need to do is think that the people should be well and that the rights of the state should not be taken away. Only the DMK leader has that leadership ability,“.
In February 2021, Udhayanidhi Stalin addressed an election rally at the Ulundurpet-Vriddhachalam road junction in Kallakurichi district, making bold promises to the public.
He emphasized that neither former Chief Ministers Karunanidhi nor Jayalalithaa had allowed the NEET exam during their tenures. Criticizing the current government’s stance on NEET, he highlighted that 14 students in Tamil Nadu had tragically ended their lives due to the immense pressure and fear surrounding the exam.
Udhayanidhi assured the crowd that this distressing trend would come to an end under DMK’s rule. He pledged that once the DMK came to power, the NEET exam would be abolished.
In March 2021, Udhayanidhi Stalin said “There was no entrance exam during the DMK regime. Similarly, during Jayalalithaa’s rule, no entrance exam was allowed. After that, the AIADMK government introduced the NEET exam. Due to this, 14 people, including student Anitha, have committed suicide in the last three years. When the DMK comes to power, the NEET exam will be canceled.”
Kanimozhi
Karunanidhi’s daughter and DMK MP Kanimozhi had said “If you understand that Tamil Nadu is Periyar’s land, we will make you run for your lives but won’t let NEET happen here. Questions may arise that NEET has already come, it can’t be changed, what can be done now? This is Tamil Nadu. We can rewrite any history. In Tamil Nadu, your Manu Needhi itself was changed. Do you think we can’t change NEET?”
A Raja
DMK MP A. Raja had called the resolution brought by the Edappadi Palaniswami-led AIADMK government against NEET as humbug.
Raja had said “Then for what purpose you passed a resolution? Do you have brains? You claim to have analysed all possibilities and declared that there is no chance of cancelling NEET. Then why did you pass a resolution in the Assembly? To fool whom? Is it not fraudulent? I’m asking you now. Tomorrow if Stalin says that sun has to be kept in Secretariat. Is it possible? But if Edappadi Palaniswami passes a resolution saying that they will catche the sun and tie it in the secretariat, who is the fool? You’re telling now that it is not possible right? Instead of passing the resolution, you should have told that it is not possible at all. We can’t pass the resolution. If you had said that, you’re honest. But you passed a resolution to hoodwink the people. Claimed to have sent the resolution to President. You didn’t even know where the President house is and lied about the resolution reaching him. How will you count this man as a Chief Minister? We had only asked for passing the resolution. You’re saying it’s not possible right? How did your Amma (Jayalalithaa) stop it? You’re not able to stop what your mom stopped. You’re not walking in the path of your Amma right?”
However, the Tamil Nadu government passed a Bill in the assembly against the exam which as expected ended in limbo.
DMK Should Be Held Accountable Confusing Students
In the DMK’s political game, students have been facing stress as they were kept bewildered with their false promises. They’ve been using students as pawns playing with their future.
As Annamalai had said “They (DMK) are instigating children to die. If you file an FIR and put Stalin in jail for death of children, no child will commit suicide. If I had been part of the Tamil Nadu police department, I would have filed an FIR and thrown Stalin in as the first accused.”
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