Vijay-led TVK demands NEET abolition, says states should control medical education

Tamil Nadu's ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, reiterated its demand for the complete abolition of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), saying it was not just opposed to irregularities in the medical entrance examination but wanted the test scrapped altogether.

The party also called for states to be given full authority over medical education by shifting education from the Concurrent List to the State List of the Constitution.

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Issuing a statement amid student protests over NEET in Delhi, the TVK said its "uncompromising and firm stand" was that the national-level entrance examination for medical aspirants should be abolished. Taking an apparent swipe at the opposition DMK without naming it, the party said it would never indulge in the "fraudulent politics" of deceiving people for votes by making false promises to "scrap NEET ourselves."

The party argued that moving education to the State List would provide a lasting solution to the issue. "If there are any legal or procedural hurdles in doing so, a Special Concurrent List should be created as an interim measure until they are resolved to grant powers to state governments," it said.

According to the TVK, such a move would ensure that states exercise full authority over education, including medical education. "This is our vision for both a permanent and an interim solution. Our victorious leader (Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay) has already emphasised this," the statement added.

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The party also accused its critics of attempting to appropriate its ideas and campaigns, saying those indulging in the unethical politics of "putting their own label" on others' hard work, ideas and struggles should stop targeting the TVK.

The statement came amid criticism by Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin over the government's handling of rapper 'Therukkural' Arivu, who has been vocal against NEET. Before being detained by police, Arivu briefly raised anti-NEET slogans outside the Tamil Nadu Secretariat at Fort St. George.