Medical quota: CPM to gherao Raj Bhavan for Guv’s accent

CHENNAI: CPM on Sunday announced that it would gherao Raj Bhavan and hold demonstrations in all district headquarters on October 20 to urge Governor Banwarilal Purohit to give assent to the state government’s decision to reserve 7.5 per cent medical seats for the government school students and also to sack Anna University Vice Chancellor MK Surappa.

“The central government is keen on doing away with the reservation in the name of qualification and talent. As part of it, the NEET examination is being held. And the centre is unable to hold even that examination systematically and accurately,” CPM politburo member G Ramakrishnan said.

The state Assembly on September 15 passed legislation to provide reservation of 7.5 per cent of the medical seats under the state quota for the government school student who passed the NEET examination, he said, adding that the bill was sent to Governor for his assent but he has been dragging his feet.

“Despite all the political parties supported the Bill, even the BJP which usually oppose the move to uphold social justice and reservation also did not oppose it. Even then, the Governor is deliberately delaying to give his assent,” he alleged.

On the controversy over Anna varsity VC writing a letter to the centre without the knowledge of the state government on the issue of getting Institute of Eminence, he said Surappa has unilaterally sent a letter to the Centre against the principles of federalism and the state’s right.

“Hence we demand immediate sacking of the vice-chancellor,” he demanded.