Chennai, Jul 24 (PTI) DMK spokesperson T K S Elangovan on Friday reiterated his party’s firm stance against the NEET, demanding medical admissions be based strictly on Class 12 board marks, while also criticising Karnataka’s position on the Cauvery water dispute.
“NEET has killed the students’ education in the school system,” Elangovan told PTI Videos. “Students who score high marks consistently from Class 1 to Class 12 are unable to get medical seats, while those who pay huge sums to commercial coaching centres gain admission,” he added.
Highlighting the structural inequality of the entrance exam, he cited the case of Anitha, a student from Ariyalur district who scored exceptional marks in her school finals but took her life after being denied a medical seat under NEET.
Elangovan pointed out that for approximately nine lakh candidates who cleared NEET this year, the total available seats stand at roughly 91,000. He expressed concern that while government colleges (around 46,000 seats) strictly follow merit ranks, the remaining 43,000 seats in private institutions often prioritise financial capacity over merit. He insisted that medical seats should be allocated purely based on school final marks.
Ahead of proposed talks between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka leaders in early August, Elangovan emphasised established riparian rights governing shared water resources.
“International law dictates that upstream states cannot stop water flow to lower riparian states. Lower riparian areas must not be deprived of water,” he said.
He reiterated that authority over Cauvery water allocation rests solely with the appointed Tribunal and Management Authority, not the Karnataka government. He warned that unilateral projects such as the Mekedatu dam would cut off necessary water supplies to lower riparian areas including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry. PTI JR JR ADB
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