After strongly opposing the diesel price hike and the FDI in retail, the DMK, the second largest ally of the ruling Congress-led UPA at the Centre, today wanted the government to scrap the All India Entrance Test for PG Medical Courses. Replying to set of questions, DMK President M karunanidhi said the Centre should respect the sentiments of the State governments and take steps to abolish the common entrance exams for medical courses. Noting that it was abolished in Tamil Nadu by the previous DMK regime, Mr Karunanidhi said there were reports that the Centre was mulling with the idea of holding common entrance tests for medical courses. “The DMK’s stand is that the Centre should immediately intervene and take steps to abolish the entrance tests aimed at filling 15 per cent of seats from the State quota,” he added. He said by taking away 15 per cent of the seats, there was no reservation for backward classes and most backward classes students. “The Centre should immediately intervene and take steps to completely abolish the entrance exams and pave way for providing quota for BCs and other Backward Classes,” he added. Mr Karunanidhi had earlier opposed the diesel price hike and FDI in retail and even pledged his party’s support to the Opposition BJP-led NDA sponsored Nation wide bandh on September 20, dropping enough hints that the southern ally was not all happy with some of the decisions taken by the Centre. He had also turned down the Centre’s offer to fill up the two vacant berths in the Union Cabinet. The DMK has convened its emergency executive meeting on October one, where the party was expected to discuss about its relations with the Centre. UNI
