Union Minister of State for Commerce Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcement that that the Centre would “cooperate” to grant a one-time exemption from NEET-based admissions through the ordinance route in government medical colleges and the government quota seats in private medical colleges has evoked strong criticism from a section of leaders.
“Commerce Minister promises on NEET. Power and Coal Minister rejects GST rate changes. Who is in charge of which portfolio?” tweeted former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram.
“Is she the Union Health Minister or Home Minister or Prime Minister? Something is happening,” CPI(M) State secretariat member K. Kanagaraj said. “I suspect she might be projected as the BJP’s face in Tamil Nadu in the future as even Pon. Radhakrishnan, the only Union Minister of State from Tamil Nadu, appeared unaware of the development,” he added.
However, BJP MP L. Ganesan said Ms. Sitharaman had not made any unilateral announcement, but shared the information when a question pertaining to NEET was raised.
Legal implications
He said though there was a reason behind Tamil Nadu’s demand, the Centre had to look into the legal implications of giving exemption to one State which might affect other States.
“Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda consulted leaders from Tamil Nadu and AIADMK ministers and leaders also met him. I have attended the meetings and Ms. Sitharaman also took part in the consultations. When a decision was taken by the government we conveyed it to the people as we are also part of the government,” explained Mr. Ganesan.
BJP State president Tamilisai Soundararajan echoed his views, saying Ms. Sitharaman had only responded to a pointed question on the subject.
“We are all part of the discussion held on the subject after the Prime Minister visited Rameswaram. Since she was also fully involved in the discussion, she has expressed the government’s stand,” Ms. Soundararajan told The Hindu.
She said the Centre had resorted to the ordinance route because NEET was said to severely affect the prospect of rural students entering medical colleges.
Asked whether Ms. Sitharaman would be given a bigger role in Tamil Nadu politics, Mr. Ganesan said he could not judge what would happen in the future.
“She is a Tamil and had her education in Tamil Nadu and abroad. She is one of the very efficient ministers in the Union Cabinet. Tamils should be proud of her achievement,” said Mr. Ganesan.
Reacting to Mr. Chidambaram’s tweet, he said in the Congress government many decisions, which were supposed to be taken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, were taken by others. “Mr, Chidambaram might have forgotten the fact, but the nation still remembers,” he said.
