S Anitha, a young Tamil girl’s suicide, has rattled all sections of people in Tamil Nadu. While the common public have expressed their dismay over NEET and offered condolences for her death, political leaders have condemned both the State and Central governments for failing to exempt Tamil Nadu from NEET.

Daughter of a daily wage worker, the 17-year-old weathered all difficulties and scored 1176 marks in the Plus Two State Board examinations. Depressed over not able to secure a medical seat because of the introduction of NEET, the girl who took the fight against the uniform medical entrance test to the Supreme Court, hanged herself to death at her house in Kuzhumur village in Ariyalur district on Friday.

DMK working president M K Stalin said both the governments should be held responsible for the girl’s death.
“Anitha’s suicide is an example of how gruesome and dangerous NEET is. The previous DMK government scrapped entrance tests for professional courses to ensure that students from all sections studied engineering and medicine.

மாணவி அனிதாவின் தற்கொலைக்கு மத்திய அரசும், கையாலாகாத தமிழக அரசும் தான் காரணம் #NEETkillsAnitha

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) September 1, 2017

The central government has dealt a blow to the social justice in Tamil Nadu by authoritatively introducing NEET. By supporting the centre on the issue, the AIADMK government in the state has betrayed the people of Tamil Nadu.”

Sidelined AIADMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran has tweeted saying Anitha’s suicide is saddening and disheartening.

நீட் தேர்வை எதிர்த்து போராடியஅன்பு மகள் அனிதா தற்கொலை செய்துகொண்டார் என்ற செய்தி மிகுந்த மனவேதனையும் அதிர்ச்சியும் அளிக்கிறது.

— TTV Dhinakaran (@TTVDhinakaran) September 1, 2017

Leading actors have also condoled her death. Actor Kamal Haasan told media persons that everybody should protest against NEET. “This is a tragedy that should not have happened. Those who should argue against NEET are in a bargaining mode. Every citizen cutting across party lines and caste and religion should fight for justice. Our arguments (in the Supreme Court) are probably weak. We have to better our arguments,” he said.

Later in the evening actor Rajinikanth tweeted, “What has happened to Anitha is extremely unfortunate. My heart goes out to all the pain and agony she would have undergone before taking this drastic step.”Offering his condolences to her family, he stayed away from commenting on NEET.

#RipAnitha pic.twitter.com/p5t507dLaQ

— Rajinikanth (@superstarrajini) September 1, 2017

The CPM has called out for protests across the state against both the “anti-people”governments in the “interest of the TN students.”

Meanwhile, education minister K S Sengottaiyan and health minister Vijaya Bhaskaran condoled her death and health secretary J Radhakrishnan said suicide is not a solution. Health department has come forward to open a helpline to counsel students who are under stress due to their inability to secure medical seats because of NEET.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has announced Rs 7 lakh as solatium and a government job for a member in Anitha’s family.