Anti-NEET bill: DMK to stage hunger strike on Aug 20 against Centre, Guv

Chennai: Tamil Nadu State Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Udayanidhi Stalin on Wednesday announced the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK) decision to conduct a statewide hunger strike on August 20 against the Centre and state Governor for disapproving anti-NEET bill.

Udayanidhi said that the youth, student, and doctors wing of the DMK will conduct the day-long hunger strike across all the district headquarters.

In a joint statement, Udayanidhi and secretaries of the three wings said that the party would continue with the agitation until a nod is not given to the bill.

The anti-NEET Bill seeks an exemption for medical aspirants in Tamil Nadu from taking the NEET examination for admission to UG degree courses in Indian medicine, dentistry, and homeopathy.

This comes in line with the rising number of suicides of NEET aspirants in the state.

19-year-old Jagadeeswaran, a NEET aspirant, and his father died by suicide on August 12 after not clearing the entrance test. "With this, the toll of students who have died by suicide due to NEET has increased to 16 in our State. These tragedies could have been definitely avoided if our bill for exemption from NEET had been given assent and the medical admissions done on the basis of +2 marks," Chief Minister M.K Stalin wrote to President Murmu.

“The future of Tamil students is important to us. We are not someone who will be here this year and leave next year. DMK will raise the voice for the people, whether the party is in power or not," Stalin said.

The announcement of the strike comes a day after CM Stalin during his Independence Day address, said that education must be included in the state subject in concurrent list.

With inputs from agencies