The BJP-led NDA government, if returned to power, will continue to conduct the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for admission to medical courses and “will convince the AIADMK” on the issue, senior BJP leader and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said here on Friday.
When asked about the stand of the AIADMK, its Tamil Nadu ally, on abolishing NEET, Mr. Goyal told mediapersons that the AIADMK had only asked for the test to be held in Tamil, and that demand had been accepted.
When reporters pointed out that the AIADMK, in its manifesto, had said it would urge the Centre to exempt Tamil Nadu from NEET, Mr. Goyal said, “I don’t think NEET should be scrapped, and we will convince the AIADMK. It will be held in Tamil language.”
“The demand from all the people in Tamil Nadu was that NEET should be [held] in the regional language so that Tamil people will get a good chance [at cracking it]. The people of Tamil Nadu want medical seats to be filled on the basis of merit, and our poor children should also get the opportunity to pursue medical education,” he said.
Mr. Goyal alleged that the Congress was making ‘fake promises’ on NEET. It wanted to deceive the poor so that they do not get medical education and only rich people could join medical courses, he said.
The DMK, in its manifesto, promises to scrap NEET, while the Congress manifesto promised to replace it with a State-level examination, he said.
Desalination plants
The BJP-led NDA government would set up desalination plants, which will be powered by solar energy in the short-run to tide over the water crisis in the State, Mr. Goyal said.
Action would be taken on linking rivers, the Minister said, thanking actor Rajinikanth for welcoming the BJP’s promise on the linking of rivers.
He said the Kusum Yojana would be a game-changer for farmers, who would be encouraged to set up solar power plants on their farms. They could sell surplus power to the power utility and increase their income.
Mr. Goyal said the AIADMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu represented all its people, and that they all wanted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to return to power.
