Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Friday urged the Centre to consult the States before taking policy decisions on vital issues such as the medical common entrance test (CET).
“If a contrary approach is adopted, which we fear will snatch away the just rights of Tamil Nadu, we have no other option but to express our regrets,” he said.
The Chief Minister expressed happiness over the Centre's recent decision to put on hold the proposal for a nationwide medical CET. At the same time, he said the States' opinion should have been sought before such “disturbing” decisions were taken.
Even on issues such as levying of taxes, the views of the States should be obtained. The Centre should carefully think about all aspects of an important issue before arriving at a decision. Otherwise, it would be construed as “intrusion” into the rights of States and make one believe that their autonomy was in peril.
Inaugurating a super speciality hospital, integrated Collectorate complex and other projects here on Friday amid heavy downpour, Mr. Karunanidhi said that these views had also been placed at the high-level meeting of Finance Ministers held in New Delhi by State Minister Durai Murugan.
He asked all political parties to unite and express their views on common issues in one voice. “To criticise the Centre for anything and everything to get political mileage will never serve the purpose. We have to rise as one unit so that the Centre will respect our views.”
Reacting to the criticism by AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa on the Medical CET, the Chief Minister pointed out that he had consulted the officials concerned, Ministers and others before writing to the Prime Minister and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, asking them not to pursue the move as it would affect poor students.
“We had even told them that it [the letter] reflects the feelings of the people of Tamil Nadu, which has scrapped entrance tests. But, she [Jayalalithaa] is accusing me of not taking any strong action.”
Mr. Karunanidhi said his letter had yielded positive result and the Prime Minister had put the decision on nationwide medical CET on hold. The DMK government had also approached the Supreme Court. “In fact all political parties in Tamil Nadu, including the AIADMK, have endorsed the DMK's stand on the CET.”
Call to doctors
Mr. Karunanidhi asked doctors, nurses and others of the medical fraternity to serve people with dedication so that the huge infrastructure created by the government would benefit all.
He thanked the Centre for allotting Rs.100 crore for the Rs.139.31-crore super speciality hospital.
State Ministers K. Anbalagan, Veerapandi S. Arumugam and M.R.K. Panneerselvam; Union Minister of State for Health S. Gandhiselvan; PMK president G.K.Mani; Revenue Secretary K. Dhanavel; Principal Secretary, Health, V.K. Subburaj; Medical Education Director S. Vinayagam and others spoke.
The Chief Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects to the tune of Rs.321.14 crore.
He distributed welfare assistance to 24,184 beneficiaries.
