Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has expressed solidarity with the Congress party’s protest against the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and has condemned the police’s treatment of opposition party leaders. This support follows recent events where several key figures, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, faced detention during demonstrations in the national capital. CM Vijay described the detention of these leaders as an “undemocratic” act by the authorities.

Vijay took to social media platform X to voice his concerns regarding the police’s actions. He highlighted that such actions against opposition leaders participating in the protests against NEET showcase a troubling trend. He noted the importance of allowing voices of opposition to be heard, especially in relation to issues impacting students and their families.

The Chief Minister’s remarks came in response to incidents that included Congress-led protests at Lok Kalyan Marg, which followed a demonstration on Parliament premises. The Congress party has been vocal about its demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Calls for Abolishing NEET Examination

In his statements, CM Vijay has called for the complete abolition of the NEET examination, which he claims adversely affects students and their families. He has argued that the management of education should be transferred to the State List rather than remaining under the Concurrent List, where it currently resides. This change, he argues, would allow for greater autonomy for states in educational matters.

Vijay further proposed the establishment of a ‘Special Concurrent List’ as a temporary measure to provide states with more authority in managing both general and medical education. He believes this step is crucial to navigating any potential legal or procedural barriers that may arise in the transfer of educational authority.

Vijay reiterated his commitment to opposing the NEET system, stating that the implementation of an examination that creates significant distress is not justifiable. He urged that the NEET examination must be entirely scrapped to align with the sentiments of the people in Tamil Nadu.

Wider Opposition and Government Response

The calls for abolishing the NEET examination have resonated beyond the Tamil Nadu government. MK Stalin, the DMK chief and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, has also voiced similar sentiments regarding the need for repeal of NEET. The protests signify a united front among opposition parties, reflecting widespread concern about the impacts of the examination system.

In the aftermath of protests on July 20, Congress workers have been actively organising demonstrations across multiple states to express discontent towards the police actions during the events in Delhi. The party’s unified response has highlighted their commitment to challenging government decisions they view as detrimental to educational access.

Meanwhile, in reaction to the situation, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju indicated that the government is open to discussions within Parliament concerning the NEET exam paper leak and related issues, signalling a potential avenue for dialogue regarding the contentious topic. However, the ongoing protests underscore significant public dissatisfaction with the current education policies.

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