DMK blames testing agency over NEET, slams BJP-led govt for being 'spectator'

Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK on Saturday, 15 June, accused the National Testing Agency (NTA) of spoiling the sanctity of NEET and blamed the BJP-led government at the Centre for being a 'spectator' and backing coaching centres that earned in crores. Yet again, the DMK sought scrapping the national test, saying it alone would protect the sanctity of education sector.

Referring to the Centre telling the Supreme Court days ago that the grace marks of 1,563 students would be cancelled, DMK's Tamil mouthpiece 'Murasoli' said the BJP government would not have done this if the matter had not been taken to the apex court. Over the years, several irregularities have been happening in NEET and the BJP government did not take note of it, the daily in an editorial on June 15 alleged.

The irregularities and scams that happened in 'secret' so far in the conduct of NEET were held in 'open' in 2024. Only to hide this, the test result that was scheduled to be released on June 14 was advanced to June 4, when the result of Lok Sabha polls was declared.

However, the scam got exposed. "We have heard about grace marks, it will be one or two marks. But, how could 70 and 80 marks be termed grace marks? The NTA awarded full marks and this is national injustice." The BJP government remained 'servile' to coaching centres that earned crores every month and it 'established' the 'rule of corporates' in the education sector too.

Right from the beginning, Tamil Nadu and key political parties including the DMK have been opposing NEET and the Assembly passed a Bill to exempt the state from the purview of the exam and it was sent to the Centre to secure Presidential assent.

"We (the state) have requested scrapping NEET or exemption to Tamil Nadu from the test." The BJP government, however, rejected the staunch opposition as merely political.

However, today, the students themselves have realised the 'fraudulent' aspects and the affected students approached the top court with a plea to cancel the May 5, 2024 National Eligibility cum Entrance Test and sought strong measures to prevent irregularities.

"The Supreme Court itself said the sanctity of NEET-UG has been affected and 'who spoiled the sanctity? it was the National Testing Agency and the BJP government at the Centre was a spectator."

On the whole, only abolishing NEET will be the permanent and fair solution to this problem and only then the sanctity of the education sector would be protected.

On behalf of the NTA and the Centre, the same advocate appeared before the apex court and it makes it clear that there is no difference in stand whatsoever between the agency and the union government. Also, the Centre aided the agency in its decisions. Even after the grace mark scam was exposed, the union government does not appear to have realised its mistake.

Referring to the retest on June 23 for students whose grace marks were withdrawn, the Dravidian party daily wondered about the nature of the outcome of the exam to be held again. "See the manner in which they (centre/agency) argue (in court) for the coaching centres that earn in crores."