Governor has nothing to do with the anti-NEET bill, says Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian

Related: TN Governor says ‘I will never give clearance to anti-NEET Bill’

‘No need for his consent’

“Left with no other option (this time), the Governor sent the bill to the President. His job is over with that. He has got nothing to do with NEET (bill). There is no need for his consent as well,” the minister said in a statement.

If the President was satisfied and gives assent to the bill, only that information of the approval would be shared with the Governor, Subramanian said.

In such a situation, the Governor’s remarks against the anti-NEET bill amounted to “fishing in troubled waters”, he said.

A Governor should ideally support the welfare initiatives of the state government and the DMK regime’s stand against the NEET was reflective of the public sentiment. DMK president and Chief Minister MK Stalin had made an electoral assurance in 2021 to do away with the central qualifying test, if voted to power in the elections then, he said.

In his interaction with top NEET scorers in UG-2023, held as part of the “Dare to Think Series” on Saturday, Ravi said achievements without NEET were not enough for the future. The qualifying test is here to stay, he had asserted.

“Look, I will be the last man to give clearance; never, ever. I do not want my children to feel intellectually disabled. I want our children to compete and be the best. They have proved it,” he added.

The Governor’s stand might further impact the already strained relationship between the Raj Bhavan and the DMK government.

Also read: Governor ‘instigates’ communal hatred, threatens peace in TN: CM Stalin

Ravi’s stand on the exam

When a student pointed out that many parents would not be able to afford to send their children for coaching for the exam, Ravi claimed that many qualified it without any coaching.

Ravi added, “Whatever is there in the CBSE book, nothing beyond is needed. Many students, I have seen cleared it, cleared it well without going to coaching institutions. The book they have prescribed — the CBSE book — is of a high standard.”

CBSE has a “very good syllabus and NEET is not beyond that”, Ravi contended.

Governor Ravi alleged that medical admissions in Tamil Nadu were a ₹1,000 crore business before NEET as several private medical colleges were run by influential people. “It was all out corruption, making money and these colleges collected ₹1 crore for each seat,” he said.

Further, Ravi alleged that the politicians in Tamil Nadu have created a fear psychosis among students regarding NEET. The private medical colleges’ lobby has been spreading rumours that there was a problem with NEET.

“Let there not be any confusion, NEET is going to stay in the country. I want my children to be competitive, to be the best in the country,” he added.

(With PTI inputs)