New Delhi, 10 June 2021 – After the cancellation of Class 12 board exams, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking suspension of all national level entrance exams including the national medical entrance exam – NEET 2021.
I’ve written to @PMOIndia urging him to cancel the conduct of NEET and all other national level entrance exams, keeping in mind the safety of the students, as the reasons for cancelling the class XII board exams are equally applicable to entrance exams as well. pic.twitter.com/It2ngW55r2
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) June 5, 2021
NEET 2021 Cancellation – Requests from DMK and AIADMK
On Saturday, 5th June 2021, Stalin urged the Prime Minister to cancel NEET 2021 and allow Tamil Nadu to fill professional seats, including MBBS, based on Class 12 marks.
Citing the prevalent COVID-19 situation across the country, AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) leader O Panneerselvam has backed the DMK government’s position and demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cancel the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test and other similar examinations for all professional and other courses.
Stalin stated, “During the current situation, I’m of the strong view that conducting national level entrance examinations for any professional course would be immensely detrimental to the health and well-being of the students.”
Even State Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi has reiterated that the party’s stand on cancelling NEET 2021 will remain the same, which has been scheduled to be conducted on 1st August 2021.
Concerns of Educationists over NEET 2021 Cancellation
Talking about the state government’s stand on conducting NEET 2021, the Health Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru Ma. Subramanian stated that they are very keen on not allowing NEET to be held this year right from the time of their party’s manifesto announcement. For the cancellation of the examination, as highlighted in the manifesto, appropriate legal measures will be taken and the procedure will be headed by the retired judge, AK Rajan.
However, several educationists have also raised concerns about the state’s opposition to NEET. According to them, this opposition may create disastrous confusion as a majority of students who apply to write the NEET exams are repeaters.
