Tamil Nadu BJP Will Take To The Streets In Support Of NEET

The Tamil Nadu unit of BJP today announced pro-NEET demonstrations across Tamil Nadu tomorrow to counter protests against the entrance test centered around the death of a 17 year-old medical aspirant.

The demonstrations in support of the National Entrance cum Eligibility Test would be held in 49 locations in all 32 districts of the state and led by leaders and functionaries, including the party's national Executive Member H Raja, a party release said.

The BJP's announcement comes in the wake of state-wide protests by student bodies and pro-Tamil outfits seeking 'justice' for 17-year-old Anitha, a medical aspirant from Ariyalur who allegedly committed suicide on September 1. The Dalit girl, who had earlier moved the Supreme Court against the National Entrance cum Eligibility Test (NEET), had committed suicide apparently upset over Tamil Nadu not being exempted from the entrance exam. Since then, BJP has come under attack from opposition parties including DMK and the Left over implementation of NEET while students and pro-Tamil outfits have been seeking withdrawal of the entrance exam.

The apex Court had last month asked the state government to start counselling for admissions to MBBS and BDS courses in the state based on the NEET merit list. Critics of NEET claim the new system would be disadvantageous to state board students. State BJP President Tamilisai Soundararajan had on September 9 defended the NEET and accused the opposition parties of indulging in negative politics.