Protests demanding NEET ban gather momentum across city

Opposition to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) continues to gain momentum as various student groups and activists stage protests across the city, seeking the abolition of the entrance examination and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

On Thursday, protests were held by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-Tamil Nadu and the All India Students’ Federation (AISA) at the CPI State headquarters, and by the Neelam Students Movement led by director Pa. Ranjith at Rajarathinam Stadium.

These were also a mark of solidarity with the protests in Delhi, demanding educational reforms and supporting activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on a hunger strike.

Tamil Nadu has been voicing its opposition to NEET since 2017, and has also passed a Bill in the Legislative Assembly to exempt the State from the examination.

Participating in the protest, actor Revathi said, “The visuals of the attack on students and children in Delhi on July 20 are unbearable. A united India is seen and so many people are trying to dismantle it.”

Expressing solidarity, filmmaker Vetrimaaran said consistent efforts were required to scrap the examination and he promised to stand by the movement till the end. “The Centre’s biggest motive seems to be to take away our medical education and knowledge so that we fold our hands to them. We must continue to protest to ban NEET,” he said.

Mr. Ranjith said: “There is an accusation that Gen Z don’t have political understanding. We must focus on how to politicise them. The lack of politicisation is why we lost people due to NEET in the last 10 years.”

‘Protest is for India’

Pointing out that the BJP was afraid of Babasaheb Ambedkar, he said the protest in Delhi was not just for the CJP’s leader. “The protest is for India. The fact that it begins with Jai Bhim gives people a lot of faith. It needs to spread across India,” he said.

Educationist Prince Gajendra Babu, singer Arivu, actor Andrea Jeremiah, and other prominent film personalities also participated in the protest.

Meanwhile, the police detained members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India and the Students’ Federation of India during their protest at Guindy.

Over 500 students of New College in Royapettah also protested outside their college, condemning the police brutality against students in Delhi.

‘Silent on Dalit issues’

Pointing out that no Dalit Minister in Chief Minister Vijay’s Cabinet has spoken out on Dalit issues, Mr. Ranjith said: “There are eight Dalit Ministers in the Cabinet, but apart from Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu, nobody has spoken out on Dalit issues in the past two months. Even School Education Minister Rajmohan, who we did not even know was a Dalit until he contested in Egmore. It is good that a Dalit has been made a Minister. but it has not brought change.”