Karnataka CM demands NEET re-examination

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah demands re-examination of NEET, criticizes BJP, and discusses various political issues in Karnataka.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday demanded a re-examination of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Mr. Siddaramaiah alleged that injustice had been caused to some students during the allotment of ranks in the NEET examination conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to undergraduate programmes this year.

Contending that such injustice was unfair to students, who had practiced and written the examination, Mr. Siddaramaiah demanded an investigation into the irregularities while seeking a re-examination of NEET.

Claiming that the NTA had not conducted the NEET properly, Mr. Siddaramaiah said passing students by giving them grace marks was a bad practice.

Replying to a question on the seven ministerial berths for South India in the Union Ministry, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the people of South India will not support the BJP. The saffron party did not enjoy the support of people in South India as it was a “political mask” of the RSS.

He said the BJP had suffered a setback in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra also in the last elections. Mr. Siddaramaiah also referred to the statement of an RSS leader that people had taught the BJP a lesson because of its “arrogance”.

He described as “vindictive politics” the sanction for prosecution given by Delhi Lieutenant Governor to prosecute noted novelist Arundhati Roy in connection with her 2010 statement and said the BJP has been using Enforcement Directorate (ED), Income Tax and CBI for intimidation. The people of the country had not given the party majority in the recent elections because of such practices, he said.