Every time the NEET issue is discussed, the face that comes to mind is that of Anitha's, the student from Ariyalur who committed suicide after failing to pass NEET. So when political parties, both regional and national put NEET on their manifestos, Anitha's family was pleased. Anitha's brother, Mani Rathinam recently issued a statement regarding the elections and the NEET issue.
In the statement, he mentioned that he believed the DMK seemed to be more sincere in its effort to exempt the State from NEET. Speaking to Edex, Mani said that while he would not tell people about whom to vote, personally he believes the DMK and the Congress will ensure NEET is not imposed on the State.
"Right now, there are only two major parties. If there was an alternative, it would be good but right now we have only these two. And during its term, the AIADMK accepted the Centre's decision and they've started setting up NEET training centres in the state, so we don't have much hope in them," he said. Since they have aligned with the BJP, who implemented the exam in the first place, Mani Rathinam believes they will not do anything to revoke that decision.
His faith in the DMK also stems from personal experience, "When Anitha and I were visiting politicians to speak about NEET, we were also part of a group that visited MK Stalin. I expected him to send us off in two minutes but he sat and listened to us patiently. And now the DMK has ensured that NEET is an agenda in the Congress manifesto too. Which is why we have some hope that they will exempt the state from it," he explained.
He also spoke about VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan, who he said spent two whole days with them after Anitha had passed away. "I've been watching his work for the last 30 years and so I know him well. He knows who we are, he's from the next village," he said.
Speaking about Kamal Hassan, recently mentioning Anita in a video advertisement for his party, Makkal Needhi Maiam, Mani Rathinam said, "He also called her his daughter and he was probably speaking from the same anger that any father would have felt. What he meant, I believe, was that we cannot vote for the BJP because Anitha died because of them. When the incident happened, he had also told Thirumavalavan not to let the people who caused her death go free," he said.
A lot of people, referred to Anitha as their daughter, as their sister, Mani Rathinam recalled, "I don't know how many people actually meant it and how many just used her name selfishly. But what I know is that nobody else should suffer the fate that she did. We'll know soon enough who is fighting for our rights and who isn't," the brother added.
When asked if he felt that politicians kept using his sister's name just to ensure votes, the young man said, "Politicians were the cause of my sister's death, so they should keep talking about it. And its good that they do, because people should not forget about this injustice. People of Anitha's age now have reached the age of voting and they should know who will stand for the right and who won't," he said.
