Extension of NEET to J-K shows PDP-BJP govt's failure:Abdullah

Opposition NC president Farooq Abdullah today termed the extension of NEET to Jammu and Kashmir as a "failure" of PDP-BJP government and alleged that there was a "systemic effort to undermine" the state's institutional autonomy.
"The government had assured the students and the people of the state in general that it would ensure NEET is not extended to J-K and that the state's special status is upheld.
"What happened to their appeal in the Supreme Court? They mounted a half-hearted effort and this was a pre-meditated arrangement with BJP and the central government," he told party workers in Shopian district.

The former chief minister said the government should bring in an Act through the State Legislature to protect the rights and future of the students.
"Our students who have studied hard for a different curriculum are apprehensive about their future while the state government has no answer to offer. The PDP-BJP government should not hesitate to bring in an Act through the State Legislature to protect the rights and future of our students if the need arises," he said.
The NC president said the state government's "failure" to stop the extension of the common National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for admission to MBBS and BDS courses to J-K is an indication of PDP's "complete integration" into the BJP.

"There was a systemic effort to undermine and sideline the state's institutional autonomy even in areas that specifically fall under the state list under the Constitution," he said.

Abdullah questioned the PDP-BJP alliance's motives, saying "repeated attempts" were being made to "sideline" the legislative assembly in Jammu and Kashmir.
"We saw this in the case of NFSA - where the PDP-BJP coalition government extended the Act to the state without passing a mirror act in the Legislative Assembly that would have amendments to ensure the state is not at a disadvantage.
"Then we saw the state government's half-hearted effort to move to the Supreme Court on the NEET issue. These are clear and visible signs of how PDP is playing an active role in helping a certain lobby in New Delhi to dilute the state's special status," Abdullah said.

The NC president said his party is consolidating its grassroots cadre and asked the workers to be ready for Panchayat elections.