DMK MP Maran Calls NEET 'Flawed and Unnecessary' in Lok Sabha, Demands Scrapping

NEW DELHI: DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran on Tuesday reiterated his party's long-standing opposition to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), calling the medical entrance exam 'flawed in design' and 'not necessary' during a debate in Lok Sabha. He demanded that the exam be scrapped, arguing that the government's proposed amendment to strengthen laws against paper leaks does not address the core issues.

'You are not addressing the core issue. NEET is not necessary. DMK and Tamil Nadu were the first to voice their opposition to NEET due to the fundamental flaws in its design. Our warnings were never heard,' Maran said, as per parliamentary records.

Maran, whose party is no longer part of the opposition INDIA bloc, focused heavily on DMK's stance against NEET, which replaced state-level entrance tests. He also referenced recent student protests over the exam, stating that students had compelled parliamentarians to debate the issue. He alleged that Meta smart glasses had been used to record protesting students, leading to police visits at their homes.

In his speech, Maran also claimed that he and NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule were unable to use WhatsApp broadcasts for three days due to forwarding limits. He drew a contrast with the government's response when a Facebook post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefly removed, saying the government called Meta's chief to explain, but similar issues faced by MPs were ignored.

The remarks come amid a broader debate over NEET, with the government defending the exam as a merit-based system and proposing stricter penalties for paper leaks. The DMK has consistently opposed NEET, arguing it disadvantages students from rural and non-English medium backgrounds.

Maran's speech also touched on the women's reservation bill, noting that the BJP is keen on DMK's support to push a constitutional amendment that would roll out women's reservation from 2029 and increase Lok Sabha seats by over 50%.

The government has not yet responded to Maran's specific allegations regarding Meta platforms or the use of smart glasses.