Daijiworld Media Network – Chennai
Chennai, Mar 29: AIADMK General Secretary and Tamil Nadu Opposition Leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami launched a fierce attack on the ruling DMK, holding them responsible for the tragic deaths of multiple NEET aspirants in the state.
His remarks came in response to the recent death of Dharshini, a student from Dindigul who had been preparing for the NEET exam at a private academy in Chennai’s Anna Nagar. Having attempted the test twice since 2021, Dharshini was reportedly under immense pressure after failing to clear the cutoff. Fearing the upcoming exam on May 4, she allegedly died by suicide on Saturday.
Palaniswami blamed the DMK for the situation, pointing out that the party played a key role in introducing NEET during its alliance with the Congress-led UPA government from 2004 to 2013. In a scathing post on social media platform X, he accused the ruling party of betraying students by falsely promising to abolish NEET if elected.
“For a party that misled the people by claiming NEET would be scrapped under its rule – don’t the repeated student deaths trouble your conscience?” he asked, citing 19 suicides linked to NEET stress since the DMK took office on May 7, 2021. He directly questioned Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, demanding accountability for the loss of young lives.
Taking a swipe at Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s past claim of having a ‘secret’ strategy to eliminate NEET, Palaniswami challenged, “How many more lives should be lost before that secret is revealed?” He called for an end to what he termed the “NEET exam drama,” holding the DMK fully responsible for the growing anxiety among students.
Urging young aspirants not to succumb to despair, he offered words of encouragement: “March forward with confidence. Life is big, the world is big.”