Cong, CPM embarrass DMK on 10 pc for EWS

Congress state president KS Alagiri, said, “Before deciding on 10 per cent reservation, the Centre should take census of upper caste people and then should decide on the percentage of reservation. Without affecting the 69 per cent reservation policy of the state, 10 per cent reservation to upper castes can be implemented in the state”.

CPM state secretary K Balakrishnan, too said the same for supporting the 10 per cent reservation. “Census should be carried out to enumerate the number of upper caste people, who were not covered under reservation till date and reservation should be provided for 50 per cent of their total population. The 10 per cent reservation for upper caste people is excess in Tamil Nadu as already 95 per cent of people are covered under reservation.”

PMK president GK Mani, Naam Tamilar Katchi leader Seeman, Makkal Needhi Maiam president Kamal Haasan, Dravidar Kazhagam president K Veeramani, were among the important leaders who participated in the all-party meeting.

NEET issue rocks Assembly

Earlier in the day, the Assembly witnessed high drama as DMK leader MK Stalin demanded a resolution condemning the Centre for rejecting the two bills passed by the Assembly to conduct medical admission in the state based on the plus two marks and to exempt TN from NEET.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposed NEET when he was the chief minister of Gujarat, but today he is encouraging NEET. Let us stay united and condemn the Centre,” Stalin said after moving a call attention motion. Stalin also demanded the resolution to be moved within the ongoing session as the matter is related to students.

Political parties have been demanding exemption of the state from NEET and the united Assembly has moved the bill, but the Centre has belittled the state Assembly and this need to be condemned. The Assembly should pass a resolution condemning the Centre, Stalin argued.

Replying to it, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said that the state would explore all the legal options to ensure that the NEET is scrapped and assured action. However, the ruling AIADMK leaders EPS and OPS turned down the opposition’s idea to adopt a resolution criticising Modi-led Centre. But the AIADMK leaders took turns to criticise the Congress, which introduced the NEET.

“Are we in a state of democracy and are we ruled by the Centre and we should pressurise the Centre. If the Assembly is finding it uneasy to adopt a condemnation resolution, we should at least adpot a resolution insisting the Centre to consider our demand on NEET,” DMK deputy legislative party leader Duraimurugan said. “What are you (state) going to lose by passing a fresh resolution condemning or at least insisting the Centre,” he wondered.

Pointing out that both the DMK and the AIADMK are on the same page when it comes to NEET, Health Minister C Vijaya Bhaskar blamed Congress for introducing the test. He also blamed Congress leader Chidambaram’s wife Nalini Chidambaram for appearing in the NEET review petition arguing for the effective implementation of NEET. To this Congress floor leader, KR Ramasamy said that the Congress though introduced the NEET it never forced the states to adhere to it. It was the BJP which made NEET compulsory, Ramasamy told reporters after staging a walkout protesting Health Minister’s remarks.