Chennai, Aug 19:
AIADMK leader and former minister C Ve Shanmugam on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on both the BJP and Congress over the NEET issue, accusing the two national parties of using the medical entrance examination as a political weapon instead of protecting students’ interests.
Participating in the Tamil Nadu Assembly debate on demands for grants for Public Works, Highways, Sports Development and Human Resources Management, Shanmugam said the Congress blamed the BJP for continuing NEET, while the BJP cited the Supreme Court verdict to justify its continuation.
“Congress asks why NEET was introduced, while the BJP says it is being continued based on the Supreme Court verdict. They may be different parties, but the same gene runs through both,” he said.
Shanmugam argued that Parliament has the power to enact legislation to alter the legal position arising from a Supreme Court judgment. He cited the legislation brought by the Rajiv Gandhi government following the Supreme Court’s Shah Bano judgment as an example.
He also referred to a recent amendment relating to major minerals, claiming that the Centre had amended the law following a Supreme Court verdict concerning the powers of states to levy royalties.
“If there is political will, both Congress and BJP could bring a law in Parliament to remove NEET and save students’ lives,” Shanmugam said, alleging that the examination was instead being used for political purposes.
His remarks against the BJP, which is an NDA ally of the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, have assumed significance amid his reported differences with party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami over support to the TVK government and the party’s leadership.