The text of points raised by Dr Thol.Thirumavalavan Floor Leader VCK, in the all party meeting today :
1. Sir, first, I want to emphasize the need for a discussion on the NEET Scam. Analysis of the NEET-UG 2024 results reveals that many students scoring high marks were concentrated in specific centers located in Rajasthan. It is imperative for the Supreme Court to order a re-examination. Out of the 50 NEET-UG exam centers with the highest percentage of candidates scoring above 650 marks, 37 centers are situated in Rajasthan’s Sikar district alone. Among the 30,204 students scoring over 650 marks, 2,037 are from Sikar alone. Sir, there is a perception that this government is attempting to cover up the NEET scam. Therefore, a comprehensive discussion in Parliament is crucial.
2. Sir, Parliament serves as a forum for discussion where each member represents more than 15 lakh voters. Hence, every member should be treated equally in the House. Allotting 2 to 3 minutes to smaller parties is unethical. I urge an increase in the number of sitting days and a minimum of 10 minutes of speaking time for each member.
3. Sir, currently, only 20 questions are listed per day for oral answers during the one-hour question hour, with typically only 5 to 6 questions being discussed. Therefore, I request that the question hour be extended to at least two hours.
4. Sir, due to the delimitation process, many communities, including the fishermen community, lack representation in the Lok Sabha. Fishermen from Tamil Nadu are repeatedly harassed by the Sri Lankan Navy, resulting in arrests and confiscation of their boats. Currently, more than 100 fishermen from Tamil Nadu are languishing in Sri Lankan prisons. It is regrettable that the Union Government does not recognize them as Indian fishermen. I urge a special discussion on this issue during this session.
5. Following the general election, there has been an increase in attacks against religious minorities in various parts of the country. The U.S. State Department’s 2023 religious freedom report on India highlights violent attacks on minority groups, especially Muslims and Christians, including killings, assaults, and vandalism of places of worship. Further exacerbating this issue, the Uttar Pradesh government is engaging in religious profiling by requiring shop owners to display their identities on name boards. A discussion in the House on the condition of minorities is essential.
6. Sir, finally, I request you to allocate one day for a discussion on the condition of SCs and STs. Even after 75 years of independence, successive governments have failed to curb violence against SCs and STs. The recently released SDG report by NITI Aayog also indicates a dismal failure of both Union and State Governments in reducing inequality in the country. Therefore, a discussion on this critical issue is imperative.
Regards
Thol. Thirumavalavan MP
Founder – President
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi ( VCK)