DMK delegation seeks NEET exemption, bar on Mekedatu dam

In the nine-page memorandum signed by party president MK Stalin, the DMK said Tamil Nadu students have been adversely affected by the introduction of NEET as it totally undermines social justice and provides an advantage to the urban rich.

It said that the Karnataka government’s proposal to construct Mekadatu Dam was gross and direct violation of the judgment of the Supreme Court dated 16 February, 2018, on the Cauvery water dispute.  Hence the Union Ministries concerned should be directed not to accord permission to Karnataka to construct the dam.

The delegation also complained about the Karnataka government implementing five irrigation and water supply schemes across South Pennaiyar, which it said would affect the livelihood of the people, particularly farmers, in five districts of Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka should be directed to stop these works and respect the inter-state water and lower riparian rights of Tamil Nadu, it said.

Opposing the new Education Policy-2019 as an “unwanted interference” into the rights of states, the DMK memorandum sought bringing back education in the state list.

The party also complained that all Central government offices and PSUs were dominated by Hindi-speaking people and demanded that 90 per cent reservation in jobs for locals in these establishments in Tamil Nadu. 

The DMK wanted a hike in backward classes reservation to 50 per cent besides fully implementing the present 27 per cent without any backlog. It demanded a white paper on the implementation of the 27 per cent reservation for backward classes to be tabled in Parliament. 

Other demands were expediting AIIMS project in Tamil Nadu, establishment of new desalination plants,

inter-linking of rivers, Tamil declared as official language of the Madras High Court, stopping privatisation of Salem Steel Plant and dropping of ‘anti-farmer’ Central projects. 

On Mullaperiyar Dam, the delegation urged the Centre to implement the orders of the apex court immediately and increase the water level in the dam to 152 feet.

Referring to the recent visit of the newly-elected Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to Delhi, the memorandum urged the Centre to take urgent steps to protect Tamils in the island.

The delegation also appealed to the Prime Minister to ensure release of Rs 7,825 crore to the state by way of GST and other dues as the state was facing a financial crunch.