Udhayanidhi flays Centre for continuing Neet; EPS hit out at DMK

Salem: Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has flayed the Union govt for ‘ignoring the demand of Tamil Nadu people to ban Neet,' and termed the approach as ‘peak of fascism.'
"Even if several lives are lost due to Neet injustice, even if entire Tamil Nadu unanimously wanted a ban on Neet, the Union govt's approach to ignore those voices is the peak of fascism," Udhayanidhi said in a tweet posted late Wednesday.
Condoling the death of a 19-year-old girl, S Punitha, who committed suicide in Salem on Wednesday after she was not able to secure an MBBS or a paramedical seat, Udhayanidhi said the Union govt should immediately scrap Neet, which has been playing havoc with the lives of Tamil Nadu students for seven years.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, meanwhile, slammed the DMK for not taking constructive steps to abolish Neet. He questioned the steps taken by DMK MPs to raise the issue of Neet in Parliament. Instead of taking up the issue in Parliament, DMK had enacted a signature campaign drama which was of no use, he said, after visiting the house of the girl at Edappadi in Salem. EPS walked through an agricultural field to reach the house of the girl and spoke to her relatives on Thursday.
As the relatives narrated the ordeal of the girl to secure admission in medical or paramedical college, EPS consoled and assured them of help. He handed over Rs 2 lakh solatium to the family members.
"During the 2021 assembly election campaign, Stalin said Neet will be banned once DMK comes to power. Udhayanidhi also said DMK has the secret to get Neet banned. He also claimed to have obtained one crore signature against Neet. But nothing has happened," EPS told reporters.
He said if the DMK MPs had exerted adequate pressure in Parliament, a solution could have been arrived at. EPS then urged the govt to provide special coaching to students from rural areas to clear Neet.