The Congress, on Wednesday, lodged accusations against the BJP for persistently attempting to enforce its hegemony upon the populace of Tamil Nadu. Flagging concerns such as the “catastrophic repercussions” of NEET in the region and the inadequate allocation of taxes from the Centre, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, in a discourse on X, lambasted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in anticipation of his Coimbatore rally, posing poignant inquiries regarding pivotal issues afflicting the state.
“Today, PM Modi is slated to grace Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. In a state renowned for advocating cooperative federalism, the BJP has incessantly endeavored to assert its dominance over the populace,” remarked Ramesh. He pondered, “The track record of the Modi Sarkar in TN prompts the question – does PM Modi aspire to represent the people or reign over them?”
Ramesh underscored that the NEET examination was instated by the BJP government in 2017, sparking widespread public backlash due to apprehensions regarding its potential to unjustly disadvantage students hailing from impoverished and marginalized backgrounds.
“In due course, these apprehensions were substantiated. According to data from 2019, a mere 2% of candidates who successfully passed the examination did so without availing private coaching. Given that coaching centers levy fees ranging from 2.5 Lakh to 5 Lakh per student, it becomes nearly insurmountable for marginalized students to qualify for the examination,” he elucidated.
Indeed, the Congress luminary articulated, data indicates a stark decline in the number of Tamil-medium government school students securing placements in medical courses subsequent to the introduction of NEET – plummeting from 600 in 2016 (pre-NEET) to a mere 5 in 2017, 7 in 2018, and none in 2019.
“To rectify this injustice, the TN Assembly has passed two NEET bills since 2017, exempting students from undertaking the examination. However, neither bill received presidential assent. The most tragic facet of this narrative is that Tamil Nadu has witnessed several student suicides annually preceding the examination’s administration,” lamented Ramesh.
Ramesh contended that the entirety of Tamil Nadu has borne witness to the deleterious ramifications of NEET, questioning why the Prime Minister has not even acknowledged the havoc wrought by his policies.
“Last week, the Tamil Nadu state found itself compelled to petition the Supreme Court as the Union government has withheld crucial disaster relief funds. Tamil Nadu continues to grapple with the aftermath of Cyclone Michuang, which ravaged the state in December 2023, resulting in unprecedented flooding and substantial devastation,” he divulged.
The state administration has already disbursed Rs 3,406 crore from the State Disaster Relief Fund and other state coffers, yet this remains insufficient to offset the extensive damage wrought by the cyclone, Ramesh revealed. In such circumstances, states can petition for additional aid from the National Disaster Relief Fund, established specifically to alleviate calamities that surpass the state government’s coping capacity, he emphasized.
The Tamil Nadu government had submitted applications to access these funds as early as December 19 the previous year and again on January 10, seeking the release of Rs 18,214 crore in aid, he disclosed.
“Yet, over 4 months later, the Centre has yet to reach a final decision. Needless to say, this delay in fund disbursement carries severe implications for the people of Tamil Nadu,” decried Ramesh. He queried, “What ‘vendetta’ does the PM harbor against the Tamil populace to display such apathy towards their needs?”
“In 2008, during his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, PM Modi incited controversy with remarks concerning fiscal injustice and inadequate tax devolution from the Centre. However, now that the BJP holds sway, the tables have turned,” he alleged. In January, the Tamil Nadu finance minister highlighted that the state received a mere 29 paise for every rupee remitted to the Centre, he recounted.
Ramesh observed that despite Tamil Nadu accounting for 6.124% of India’s population, its share of central taxes had dwindled from 5.305% under the 12th Finance Commission to 4.079% under the 15th Finance Commission. “This diminution in Tamil Nadu’s allotment coincides with the Modi Sarkar’s implementation of a cess raj, conceived specifically to evade revenue-sharing with states,” he pointed out.
“Is the PM’s change of stance on this matter entirely motivated by his aspiration to centralize power?” pondered Ramesh, urging Modi to break his silence on these pertinent issues.
