Union Minister dismisses need to scrap NEET

Chennai: With the elections drawing nearer, the issue of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in Tamil Nadu has taken a limelight, with major political parties coming out in foray and promising to scrap NEET in their respective election manifesto.

However, Union Minister for Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal on Friday dismissed the need to scrap the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical college admissions as it would enable the private colleges to demand a huge capitation fee.

On Friday Congress President Rahul Gandhi in a series of election rallies in Tamil Nadu said the party's manifesto has promised scrapping of NEET, in line with the demands of Tamil Nadu people.

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BJP's ally in Tamil Nadu, the ruling AIADMK in its manifesto has promised to secure a temporary exemption for the state from NEET.

Speaking to reporters, Goyal said Congress wanted to re-introduce a system where private medical colleges can demand capitation fee. He said students belonging to weaker economic background should be able to pursue a medical education, which, he said, is possible under NEET.

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The Minister further added the BJP would "convince" the AIADMK, its main regional ally in Tamil Nadu, where the test is controversial and has caused two students to kill themselves.

The BJP is part of the AIADMK-led alliance that includes PMK, DMDK, TMC, PT and others.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that In Tamil Nadu, DMK had also promised to do away with the National Eligibility-Cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions and ushering in quota in the private sector in its manifesto for the Lok Sabha election.

“The NEET for medical admissions will be scrapped,” DMK chief M K Stalin said while unveiling the salient features of his party’s manifesto

Read Also : NEET for Medical Admissions will be Scrapped: DMK mentions in Election Manifesto