Blaming the State government and the Centre for the death of Anitha, a medical aspirant in Ariyalur, leaders of political parties have said the governments should take responsibility for her suicide as they had given false hopes to aspirants that Tamil Nadu would be exempted from NEET-based medical admissions.
DMK working president M.K. Stalin said the cruelty of NEET had been explained by the death of Anitha, whose dream of becoming a doctor was killed and all her efforts over two years in higher secondary schooling allowed to go waste.
Recalling Anitha’s visit to the DMK headquarters, where she submitted a representation signed in her blood to him opposing the NEET, Mr. Stalin said she had fallen prey to the “secret understanding” between the State government and the Centre. “The BJP government falsely promised that it would provide exemption to Tamil Nadu from NEET, but went back on it during the hearing in the Supreme Court,” he said.
Even AIADMK deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran said that the irresponsible act of the State government and the Centre, which promised to exempt Tamil Nadu from NEET, was responsible for her suicide. “Anitha had faith in the promise of the government but committed suicide because she could not tolerate the betrayal. If Amma (Jayalalithaa) was alive, she would have saved the State from the injustice of the NEET,” he said.
TNCC president Su Thirunavukkarasar said that Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar should resign, owning responsibility for the death of Anitha.
CPI (M) state secretary G. Ramakrishnan said, “What happened today is the manifestation of the BJP’s political policy.”
He said Anitha had scored 196.5 cut-off marks and it would have gained her a seat in one of the best State-run medical colleges. “NEET snatched the opportunity [from her] and she fought through legal means. But she could get only into a veterinary college,” he said.
PMK leader S. Ramadoss said society should hang its head in shame for its failure to prevent the death of Anitha, who would have entered one of the top medical colleges in the State if the marks scored in the Plus Two examinations were followed for admission.
He said the government should have offered her counselling to come out of her depression. “She should have been advised that there are other fields and not just medical education that offer scope for achievement,” he said.
‘Greatest betrayal’
MDMK general secretary Vaiko said the Centre was entirely responsible for the death of Anita as it forced the State government to promulgate an ordinance with a false hope.
“Later, it told the Supreme Court that it had not cancelled the nod. It is the greatest betrayal in the history of independent India,” he alleged.
VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan said, “Anitha’s death would be the beginning of a long struggle to bring an end to NEET, not only in Tamil Nadu but across the country.”
Dr. G. Ravindranath, general secretary of Doctors’ Association for Social Equality said the failure to get Presidential assent to NEET exemption Bills led to Anitha’s death.
TMC leader G.K. Vasan said NEET deprived Anita of a medical seat even though she had scored very high marks in Plus Two examinations.
Manithaneya Makkal Katchi leader Jawahirullah blamed the State and Central governments for the NEET fiasco.
Tamizhaga Vaazhurimai Katchi leader T. Velumurugan said it was not a death, but a “human sacrifice” made by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
Published - September 02, 2017 12:53 am IST
