CM Stalin dares Edappadi to announce NEET exemption as a condition for BJP alliance
Attacking Palaniswami over his ‘double standards’ over alliance with the BJP, Stalin said NEET was not introduced in the State during the regime of former Chief Minister and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi
COIMBATORE: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday dared AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami to place NEET exemption as a precondition for alliance with the BJP.
“If you have even an iota of concern for the students of Tamil Nadu, you will openly announce that an alliance with BJP is possible only if the State is exempted from NEET,” he said in the Nilgiris after inaugurating Udhagamandalam Government Medical College and Hospital, established at Rs 143.69 crore.
Attacking Palaniswami over his ‘double standards’ over alliance with the BJP, Stalin said NEET was not introduced in the State during the regime of former Chief Minister and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi.
“It was not allowed even during the tenure of J Jayalalithaa. After her demise, NEET was introduced in Tamil Nadu when O Panneerselvam and Edappadi K Palaniswami were at the feet of the BJP. Why didn’t you put forth the NEET exemption as a precondition while forging an alliance with the BJP and while facing polls together? Whereas Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had declared that NEET exemption will be given to non-willing states if the INDIA bloc comes to power,” Stalin said in response to the Leader of the Opposition accusing DMK of the loss of life of students due to NEET.
Referring to remarks by Palaniswami asking for “DMK’s secret” behind scrapping NEET, Stalin said if INDIA bloc forms government in the Centre, NEET exemption would become a reality.
“An all-party meeting has been convened on April 9 to decide on the next course of legal and political action over the Union government rejecting the State’s bill seeking NEET exemption,” he said.
Expressing his opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025, implemented in an “undemocratic” manner, Stalin hit out at AIADMK for “not coming clean on whether they oppose or support the bill.
“DMK MP A Raja in Lok Sabha and Tiruchi N Siva in Rajya Sabha spoke for more than 30 and 20 minutes respectively to record their vehement opposition. But AIADMK MP M Thambidurai spoke only for a minute without any clarity regarding whether the party opposes or supports the bill,” Stalin said, adding that A Raja will move the Supreme Court, on behalf of DMK, against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.
Expressing concern over delimitation over the possibility of reduction in parliamentary seats for TN and south states, Stalin sought an assurance from PM Modi that the representation won’t be affected.
“The Joint Action Committee, comprising 22 parties from seven states, has sought time with the Prime Minister for a meeting on the issue. There is a conspiracy to reduce Parliamentary constituencies of Tamil Nadu. I request the Prime Minister to allay the genuine fears of the people of Tamil Nadu. BJP is keen on reducing our strength as our MPs are raising their voice against issues,” he said.
