Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take immediate steps to get the Presidential assent for the two Bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly to exempt the State from the National-Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admissions to medical colleges, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Friday contended that the entrance test would favour urban students at the expense of those hailing from rural areas.
Inaugurating a Government Medical College at Pudukottai, built at a cost of ₹231.22 crore, he said that the design and pattern of NEET would in no way help rural students as there weren’t sufficient coaching centres for them. “Rural students cannot afford to undergo such coaching. Moreover, they would not be able to compete with urban students,” he said.
“The system being followed for admission to medical colleges in Tamil Nadu is a well-established one and transparent. It has ensured equality in admissions. Thousands of students, including those from poor and socially oppressed backgrounds, have benefitted [from it],” he said, adding that the State government would continue to take steps to retain this system.
He pointed out that he had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Law Minister in New Delhi recently and impressed upon them the need to get the Presidential assent to the NEET exemption Bills passed by the State Assembly. “Mr. Modi should take immediate steps to get the President nod for the Bills so as to enable the State government to continue the existing admission system,” he said.
Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar pointed out that the Medical Council of India (MCI) had given permission for admitting 150 students in the MBBS programme at the Pudukottai Government Medical College. The State government had received the MCI’s nod for offering 305 additional PG medical seats this year in various colleges, he added.
Three DMK MLAs held
Three DMK MLAs of Pudukottai district and about 200 DMK cadre, including former Union Minister S. Regupathy, were arrested minutes before the inaugural began. According to sources, police stopped Mr. Regupathy and two other party MLAs — Periannan Arasu and C.V. Meyyanathan — along with the cadre, when they were about to get into their cars to leave for the venue. The police told them that MLAs alone would be allowed to attend the function.
However, the MLAs reportedly insisted on the participation of party cadre in the function. Following this, all of them were taken into preventive custody.
