TN govt convenes all-party meet on NEET today

IANS April 9, 2025 400 views

Tamil Nadu's political landscape is heating up over the contentious NEET exemption Bill, with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin taking a strong stance against the Centre's decision. The all-party meeting today represents a critical moment in the state's ongoing battle against the medical entrance exam. Despite opposition parties like AIADMK and BJP boycotting the discussion, Stalin remains committed to finding a solution that protects students from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. The meeting could potentially set the stage for future legal challenges to the NEET requirement.

"A black chapter in the history of cooperative federalism" - M.K. Stalin
TN govt convenes all-party meet on NEET today
Chennai, April 9: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K Stalin has convened an all-party meeting on Wednesday to discuss further steps regarding the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) exemption Bill for which the President has withheld assent.

Key Points

1

Stalin accuses Centre of ignoring Tamil Nadu's NEET exemption justifications

2

All-party meeting seeks next steps after President's assent denial

3

Opposition AIADMK and BJP to boycott crucial discussion

4

Bill aims to exempt students from medical entrance exam

The Bill, passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, sought to exempt students from NEET-based admissions for undergraduate medical courses in government institutions.

CM Stalin accused the Union Government of disregarding the state's well-documented justifications for the exemption.

He said the Centre "ignored" detailed explanations submitted by the Tamil Nadu Government to multiple Union ministries, including Health, AYUSH, Home Affairs, and Higher Education.

Calling the Centre's action a "black chapter in the history of cooperative federalism", CM Stalin said it undermines the dignity of the state legislature and the democratic will of the people of Tamil Nadu.

He added that the state would consult legal experts to determine the future action.

The Chief Minister recounted the legislative history of the Bill, noting that it was first passed unanimously in the Assembly on September 13, 2021, based on the recommendations of a high-level committee led by retired High Court judge Justice A. K. Rajan.

The committee had studied the impact of NEET on students from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

However, the Bill was returned by the Governor for reconsideration. In response, an all-party meeting was convened on February 5, 2022, and the Bill was re-adopted in the Assembly on February 8, 2022.

Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) dismissed the all-party meeting as a "drama", accusing the DMK government of failing to ensure the cancellation of NEET.

He announced that his party, the AIADMK, would boycott the meeting.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has four MLAs in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, has also stated that it will not attend the meeting.

As the NEET issue continues to evoke strong political and public reactions across Tamil Nadu, today's meeting is expected to shape the next phase of the state's fight for exemption, with legal recourse likely on the table.

Reader Comments

P
Priya K.
Finally some action on NEET! Our students have suffered enough. The central government should respect state autonomy. Justice Rajan committee report clearly showed how NEET disadvantages rural students. 👏
R
Ramesh S.
While I support state rights, I'm not sure boycotting the meeting helps. All parties should at least discuss constructively. Education policies need long-term thinking beyond politics.
M
Meena V.
My cousin committed suicide because of NEET pressure last year. This exam is literally killing our children. Thank you CM Stalin for standing up for Tamil Nadu! 💛
K
Karthik P.
The opposition calling this a "drama" is rich coming from them. Didn't they promise NEET exemption too when in power? At least DMK is trying to do something about it.
A
Arjun N.
I respect the state's position but wonder if complete exemption is the answer. Maybe we need NEET reforms instead? The exam does ensure minimum standards for doctors across India.
S
Saranya R.
The way NEET is conducted favors CBSE students over state board. Justice Rajan committee proved this. Tamil medium students don't stand a chance. #BanNEET

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Tags:
NEET M.K. Stalin Tamil Nadu Politics Medical Education AIADMK BJP
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