Two medical aspirants commit suicide for scoring less marks in NEET exam in Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin slams Centre

Two students from Tamil Nadu, Ridhushree from Thirupur district of Tamil Nadu hanged herself while 17-year-old Vaishiya from Tanjore district self-immolated and killed herself for securing low score in the national eligibility cum entrance test. Both the students have scored decent marks in their 12th exam and have happened to get fewer marks in the NEET exam.

The suicide of medical aspirant Anitha in 2017 sparked a major outrage in the state where political parties took the issue and protested across the state seeking justice for Anitha. 

DMK president MK Stalin expressed his grief over the death of two medical aspirant students who committed suicide after securing low marks in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test.

MK Stalin says that the suicide of medical aspirants has become a regular incident which is happening every year, says that DMK MPs will raise the issue in the Parliament in a strong way.

Stalin in the statement says that almost 51% students, that is, 75 thousand students couldn't pass the NEET exam. This NEET has ruined the dreams of Tamil Nadu students who wanted to pursue their medical career", he said.

"The merciless Centre has become heartless and doesn't even have an iota of care for students who commit suicide and the lethargic attitude is not acceptable at all," the DMK chief added.

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A resolution was already passed in Tamil Nadu assembly that the state should get an exemption from the NEET exam, it is still waiting for the President's approval. DMK insists that the resolution should be immediately approved by the President and the state should get the exemption from NEET.

Stalin also said that DMK MPs will put all the efforts in the Parliament to make sure there is a solution for the NEET issue.

DMK spokesperson A Saravanan says that "The set of people who passed in the NEET exam belong to the general category while OBC students pass percentage is very less when compared to the OBC students who wrote the exam, this is why the Centre wanted to implement the NEET and wanted to help a set of people indirectly to become doctors."

The health minister Vijayabhaskar refused to speak and walked away when reporters posted a question on NEET suicides while other senior minister Jayakumar said "It is unfortunate that two students committed suicide, students should be given psychological counselling by the parents. We are against the NEET and we have also mentioned in it our election manifesto. But we cannot do anything now. We are still fighting against it." 

But the percentage of students who passed this year is higher than last year in Tamil Nadu, It was 39.56% in the previous year and its 48.57% in 2019.

Tamil Nadu BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararajan has hit back at MK Stalin on the NEET row and has said that the DMK is trying to politicise the NEET issue without understanding the issue. She has said that rolling back NEET or giving exemption to the state is practically not possible.

"I plead the student population not to commit suicide. There is always next time. The state politicians should not politicise and demoralise students. Stalin is saying do away but how can he say that when there is a Supreme Court verdict.  The state has done fairly well and there is a 10% increase in it. There should be an increase in the coaching centres and there is an increase in the number of seats in the state. As a doctor, I personally have support NEET.  Stalin is ignorant and wants to politicise it. It is a Supreme Court verdict. He has to go to court. One year exemption was given to the state and now 10 percent increase is also there," she said.

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