NEET issue resurfaces in Tamil Nadu Assembly on Anitha's remembrance day
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) issue echoed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday as members marked the remembrance day of NEET aspirant S Anitha, with the government and Opposition sparring over permission for a commemorative event in Chennai.
S Anitha was a 17-year-old medical aspirant from Tamil Nadu whose death by suicide in 2017 sparked a major anti-NEET movement in the state. She died on September 1, 2017, after the Supreme Court rejected Tamil Nadu's plea for exemption from NEET. A resident of Kuzhumur village in Ariyalur district, Anitha had scored 1,176 out of 1,200 in her Class 12 board exams and a medical cut-off of 196.75 out of 200, but scored only 86 out of 720 in NEET and could not secure a medical seat. She had also approached the Supreme Court against NEET, arguing that the exam disadvantaged students from rural and economically weaker backgrounds. Her death triggered widespread protests across Tamil Nadu and made her a prominent face of the anti-NEET movement.
Assembly debate
Minister Aadhav Arjuna said that former Chief Ministers MK Stalin and Edappadi K Palaniswami, as well as current Chief Minister Joseph Vijay, had taken similar resolutions against NEET, but the Union Government had not yet acted on Tamil Nadu's demand.
"Today is sister Anitha's remembrance day. Former CMs MK Stalin, Edappadi K Palaniswami and current CM Joseph Vijay have all taken similar resolutions against NEET. But the Union Government hasn't paid heed to Tamil Nadu's request yet," he said.
"In the future, this will change. We can say with confidence that this will change in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. We will take a vow today that NEET will be abolished," Arjuna added.
Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin raised the issue of permission being denied for an event planned by students at Besant Nagar to mark Anitha's remembrance day.
"On behalf of Anitha's remembrance day, students decided to organise an event at Besant Nagar. The government denied permission. Anitha's brother met me. Anitha was the first life we lost to NEET. CM had then gone to her residence to pay respects. What happened now? I would like to ask the government why they didn't give permission for the event. I urge the government to grant permission," Udhayanidhi Stalin said.
Responding to the Opposition, Aadhav Arjuna said permission was denied due to the possibility of large crowds in the area amid religious festivals. He cited the Velankanni shrine festival and Ellai Amman temple festivals taking place in the locality, leading to anticipation of huge crowds. He assured the Assembly that the government would look for an alternative venue.
Udhayanidhi Stalin rejected the government's reasoning and said the Opposition was not politicising the issue.
Remembrance event at Besant Nagar
Around 60 members of the Anti-NEET Federation, led by medical aspirant S Anitha's brother Manirathnam, held a remembrance event at Besant Nagar on Tuesday to mark her ninth death anniversary.
Speaking at the event, where candles were lit in Anitha's memory, Manirathnam questioned the government's decision to deny permission for the event. He said the organisers had applied 15 days in advance, but police, in a letter issued on Monday, had described the proposed event as a protest. He said the event would have been conducted on a larger scale had permission been granted in time.
Manirathnam said the federation's demands were in line with the government's stand against NEET and its demand to bring education back to the State List. At Periyar Thidal, Dravidar Kazhagam president K Veeramani and representatives of the DMK, VCK and Communist parties participated in a remembrance programme.