'Reinstate JEE in Bengal': State Assembly passes resolution against NEET

The Trinamool Congress on Wednesday moved a resolution in the Assembly condemning the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), and demanding that the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) be reinstated in West Bengal. The motion was passed through a voice vote.

It said, “This House, while strongly condemning the failure of the National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct undergraduate and postgraduate examinations fairly and freely, urges the Government of West Bengal to conduct the JEE to ensure a robust public healthcare system across the state, particularly in far-fledged rural areas, in the public interest.”

The resolution, moved by TMC MLAs Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, Firhad Hakim, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Aroop Biswas, Shashi Panja, Nirmal Ghosh, and Ashok Kumar Deb, stated, “Previously for the state quota of undergraduate and postgraduate seats in medical colleges in West Bengal, JEE was conducted by the Joint Entrance Board, which has since been abolished due to the NEET coming into force.”

“The NEET for undergraduate courses is based on the CBSE syllabus and not the syllabus of any state board… The majority of students aspiring for medical and AYUSH seats for undergraduate courses in West Bengal are students appearing in Uchha Madhyamik Examinations under the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Examination,” it said.

Speaking inside the assembly, state Education Minister Bratya Basu said, “In the whole episode, only one person did not comment on the issue, and he is our Prime Minister. What we are saying about the NEET scam is just the tip of the iceberg.”