NEET face-off: DMK to boycott Guv's At Home Reception

In the NEET face-off between the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu and the Raj Bhavan, the former will not attend an At Home Reception organised by the Governor RN Ravi on Thursday.

Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu and Health Minister Ma Subramanian met the Governor at the Raj Bhavan over the status of the second Assembly bill, seeking exemption for Tamil Nadu from the ambit of the National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test (NEET). The House adopted the second bill after the Governor returned the earlier one, saying that it was against the interests of the rural students.

Thennarasu told reporters that while the Governor had to give his approval to the bill, he informed them that it was still under his consideration.

“The Assembly functions according to democratic ethos. And a unanimous resolution for the second time was adopted and it’s still stuck at the Raj Bhavan. So in this situation, it would be not proper for us to participate in the feast,” Thennarasu said about the At Home Reception, organised coinciding with the Tamil New Year day today. “We have conveyed our decision to Ravi,” he added.

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The Governor and Chief Minister M K Stalin were also slated to attend the unveiling of a statue of national poet, Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiar on the occasion, later in the day.

Thennarasu pointed out that the demand for NEET exemption has also been taken up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah by Stalin, but to no avail.

Responding to a question about the future course of action, including meeting the President over the issue, the Minister said Stalin will discuss and decide on it.

DMK ally CPI(M) has already announced boycotting the event over the issue.

(With inputs from Agencies)