Reiterating that the AIADMK government was firm in its stand against NEET, Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar on Tuesday told the Assembly that the government was left with no option after the Supreme Court delivered its verdict on the issue.
He laid the blame squarely on the erstwhile UPA government, headed by the Congress, saying it paved the way for the introduction of NEET. Besides, he said, advocate Nalini Chidambaram had gone to the court in support of NEET.
“The government took every step possible to get exemption for the State from NEET. We also succeeded in getting a favourable stand from the Union Law Ministry. But Ms. Chidambaram obtained an order in the court, and we are bound by it,” he said, amid objections to his remarks by DMK and Congress members.
School Education Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan said that while the government remained unwavering in its objection to NEET, it launched 420 coaching centres for the benefit of students.
“Tamil Nadu is the only State that opposes NEET. The coaching centres, however, helped 1,330 government school students to clear the examination,” he said.
Another suicide attempt
A 17-year-old student on Tuesday attempted suicide at her house after she failed to clear NEET. The victim, Keerthika, daughter of Kamalakannan, a school warden, had scored 44 marks in NEET.
The police said she was disappointed with her score and consumed poison at her house on Tuesday. She was rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital at Mundiyambakkam, where her condition is said to be stable.