DMK’s working president M.K. Stalin has strongly condemned the BJP-led Centre’s latest move making the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) mandatory for medical students wishing to pursue AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) courses too.

Stalin has issued a statement stating that by doing so, the Centre has successfully demolished the dreams of poor students as well as those hailing from economically deprived rural areas to become doctors in their chosen field. He has also demanded immediate withdrawal of the order making it mandatory for students to sit for NEET to gain admission to AYUSH courses as well.

“Amid stiff opposition to NEET by students of many States, social organizations, etc., the BJP-led Centre had gone ahead and made NEET exam mandatory for students across the country to pursue courses in medicine. The latest order of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare making NEET mandatory for Indian medical courses referred to by AYUSH is only an act which would destroy the dreams of millions of students.

“The Centre, which imposed NEET even when the case was sub-judice, is waging war against social justice besides interfering in State subjects by making appearing in NEET mandatory to pursue courses in Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy forms of medicine (AYUSH). We urge the Centre to scrap this particular order so that poor students would have choices of their own,” Stalin’s statement said.