Karnataka Assembly passes resolution to scrap NEET, joins Tamil Nadu and West Bengal
Bengaluru: On Thursday, the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka passed a resolution in both houses of the legislature to abolish the all-India medical exam NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test). With this move, Karnataka becomes the third state to pass a resolution against NEET, following Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
The resolution highlights serious irregularities in the NEET exam and calls on the Union Government to exempt Karnataka from NEET, advocating a return to the previous Common Entrance Test (CET) system for medical college admissions in the state.
“The NEET examination which severely affects the medical education opportunities of poor rural students, makes schooling redundant and deprives the right of the State Governments to admit students in State Government Medical colleges, should be abolished,” the resolution said.
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Former minister CN Ashwath Narayan criticised the Congress for what he termed political opportunism, asserting that the party is opposing it for political reasons. He added that NEET was intended to create uniformity among students from various backgrounds and regions.
State Minister of Medical Education and Skill Development Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil moved the resolution in the legislative assembly, while Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar presented it in the legislative council. Earlier, Shivakumar had expressed concerns about NEET, noting that while Karnataka has built its medical colleges, the NEET exam is predominantly benefitting North Indian students and depriving local students. “We all have to unitedly fight against this,” he said.
In addition to scrapping NEET, the Karnataka Assembly also passed a resolution opposing the Centre’s “One Nation, One Election” proposal.
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MUDA case: Karnataka HC adjourns hearing till Dec 10
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday adjourned till December 10 the hearing on the plea seeking transfer of the investigation into the MUDA site allotment scam to the CBI. The plea was filed by activist Snehamayi Krishna doubting the credibility of Lokayukta investigation into the matter.
The petitioner told PTI that he approached the HC saying he has no faith in the Lokayukta police and hence the case should be handed over to the CBI.
In the MUDA case, it is alleged that compensatory sites were allotted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife in an upmarket area in Mysuru, which had higher property value as compared to the location of her land which had been "acquired" by the MUDA.
The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where it developed a residential layout.
Under the controversial scheme, MUDA allotted 50 per cent of developed land to the land losers in lieu of undeveloped land acquired from them for forming residential layouts. It is alleged that Parvathi had no legal title over this 3.16 acres of land at survey number 464 of Kasare village, Kasaba hobli of Mysuru taluk.
The Karnataka Lokayukta police and the Enforcement Directorate have launched an investigation into the 'scam'.
The CM has denied any wrongdoing in the alleged scam.
