Dalit medico aspirant’s death haunts Tamil Nadu

Protests continued in Tamil Nadu for the third day today against the suicide of a Dalit medical aspirant and antiNEET court petitioner, with students hitting the streets against the central and state governments.

Students and pro-Tamil activists resorted to road and rail blockade and boycotted classes in various districts like Tiruvallore and Kanchipuram. Protests were also held in Coimbatore city, Tiruchirapalli and Thanjavur.

Meanwhile, the opposition DMK, which has been targeting BJP and ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, faulting both for failing to ensure at least one-year exemption for the state from NEET, convened a meeting of various parties to discuss the issue and the death of 17-year-old Anitha.

Convened by DMK working president M.K. Stalin, the meeting was attended by Congress, Left parties and Pro-Dalit Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).

The meeting passed two resolutions, one of which condoled Anitha's death. The second said that the Centre and state governments should take responsibility for her death.

It said a protest would be held at Tiruchirapalli on Sept 8 to condemn the central and state governments over this issue and added that by implementing NEET, BJP had 'ruined' social justice in Tamil Nadu. The protest meeting would also demand permanent exemption for Tamil Nadu from NEET and to bring education under the state list, it said. -PTI