Tamil Nadu chief minister’s son and DMK youth wing state secretary Udhaynidhi Stalin on Sunday took a swipe at Governor RN Ravi over his opposition to the government’s bill seeking the abolition of the National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test (NEET) in the state, saying the Governor's only job now is that of a "postman" to pass on matters to Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Hitting out at the governor, who said that he would never sign in favour of the anti-NEET bill, Stalin junior said that he should change his name to “RSS Ravi”. "Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has got so much arrogance. Who are you, Governor? What authority do you have? He is not RN Ravi, he is RSS Ravi," said Udhayanidhi Stalin, as quoted by news agency ANI, while addressing a valedictory function.
The DMK's Youth Wing, Students Wing and Doctors Wing were leading a one-day hunger strike in the wake of another suicide of an aspirant last week.
The Tamil Nadu ruling party has voiced its strong opposition to NEET, saying it is against social justice, insisting it favours the urban students and those having access to coaching centres. DMK is also generally opposed to entrance exams for professional courses.
Udhayanidhi said the party won't stop with today's agitation and that it would even stage a protest in Delhi over the issue.
Meanwhile, the opposition AIADMK, which is in alliance with the BJP, slammed the ruling party in the state for "politicising" NEET. Addressing a massive state conference of the party at Madurai on the same day, AIADMK general secretary Palaniswami asked Stalin and his son Udhayanidhi – to not "fool" students on NEET.
"NEET came into existence then only. It is on record, and can't be concealed. This was concealed (by the DMK). NEET was brought by Congress and DMK," he said.
The ruling party's hunger strike was held throughout the state except in Madurai where the AIADMK held a massive state conference. In the temple city, the NEET strike will be held on August 23.
