CHENNAI: Political parties, including DMK, have vowed to wage a legal battle against the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), which they said had been forced upon States in violation of the recommendations of a parliamentary standing committee on Health, and to ensure social justice.
Addressing a meeting held to condole the death of medical aspirant Anitha here on Thursday, VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan appealed to DMK working president M K Stalin to take necessary steps to appeal before a larger Bench of the Supreme Court against the order of five-judge Bench that ruled in favour of NEET. Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) president K Veeramani explained the legal avenues available to challenge the verdict of the five-judge Bench and stressed adoption of a three-pronged strategy to dump NEET.
“We need to adopt a three-pronged strategy to counter NEET. It involves taking up the issue vigorously before the people’s forum, in the State Assembly and before a relevant court,” he stated. Accusing the AIADMK government of compromising on the rights of the State and kneeling before the Centre, Stalin assured that his party would support the movement against NEET and take up the legal battle against it. “We will hold consultations with legal luminaries to discuss the modalities for taking up a battle against NEET.”
Former Lok Sabha Member P Viswanathan (Congress), MLA U Thaniyarasau (Kongu Youth Forum), TK Shanmugam (CPI-M) and M Veerapandian (CPI) also addressed the event.
Portrait unveiled
Stalin unveiled a portrait of Anitha at Periyar Thidal where the condolence meeting was arranged. Anitha’s brother Manirathnam, father Shanmugam and other relatives were also present on the occasion