Chennai: Tamil actor-turned-politician Vijay has joined the chorus of Dravidian parties to abolish the pre-medical NEET examination which he believes is “against the poor and rural students” of Tamil Nadu.
This is the first time the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader has explained his stand on a particular issue in the state. Vijay is hosting a meet-and-greet event in Chennai to honour students who topped in their Class X and XII examinations.
Saying it would be unfair if he did not speak about the contentious issue, Vijay said Wednesday that NEET was an anti-student exam that has lost the trust of the public with the recent paper leak and other malpractices.
“It is true this has affected the rural, backward and oppressed caste students. Abolishing NEET is the only solution. I wholeheartedly welcome the resolution against the NEET exam passed at the state assembly,” he added.
Appealing to the Union government to respect the emotions of the people of Tamil Nadu, Vijay requested the Centre to consider bringing education under the state list from the concurrent list.
“It may not be possible to bring it immediately… But, as an interim solution, the Indian Constitution could be amended to create a special concurrent list and then, could bring in Education and Health under it,” he said.
Criticisng the concept of “one-nation, one-education”, Vijay said diversity was the strength of this country and not its weakness.
“It is unfair to ask students studying under a state board to write the NEET exam which is based on the NCERT syllabus. ‘One-nation, one-education’ will not work in a country which has such a diverse education system,” he said.
The ruling DMK’s student wing Wednesday organised a massive protest demanding that the Centre approve a bill seeking exemption from the NEET exam which was passed by the state government.
DMK’s organising secretary R.S. Bharathi, who also participated in the event, welcomed Vijay’s stand on the NEET examination. “We are happy that Vijay has welcomed the resolution passed by our government in the assembly,” he said.
Meanwhile, AIADMK has also lauded Vijay’s stand on NEET. In Tamil Nadu, all political parties, except the BJP, are now against the NEET examination.
(Edited By Tikli Basu)