PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss on Friday said the party would continue to be guided by the advice of its founder Dr S. Ramadoss, even as he acknowledged the senior leader’s age and health.
Speaking to reporters after attending a function at Saraswathi Arts College in Konerikuppam near Tindivanam in Villupuram district, Anbumani said the resignation of the Union Education Minister was “welcome” and reiterated his demand that the Centre scrap the NEET examination. He alleged that rural students were unable to pursue medical education due to NEET and said an exam that drives students to suicide should not exist. He also claimed that question paper leaks in NEET were allowing “low-quality” students to enter the medical field.
Anbumani criticised an announcement attributed to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University that the Tamil Thai Vazhthu would be sung in the third position, calling it unacceptable. He said the Governor should not exert pressure or politicise the issue and insisted that tradition be followed and the Tamil Thai Vazhthu be sung first.
On the Mekedatu issue, he said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay should not go to Karnataka for talks and instead convene an all-party meeting and meet the Prime Minister. He also said PMK was functioning as a strong opposition and would not be part of the Tamil Nadu Cabinet.
Alleging continued mineral resource plunder in the state, Anbumani called for a CBI probe and claimed that regulating quarries could fetch the Tamil Nadu government Rs 25,000 crore in revenue. He maintained that PMK was growing rapidly, that there was no confusion within the party, and that alliances benefited from PMK’s strength. Noting that Dr Ramadoss had turned 88 and was unwell but “doing fine”, he said the founder’s announcement was his own decision and that there is no retirement in politics, adding that his guidance would continue.
