NEET Abolition Stays Goal for Chennai Protesters After Minister's Exit

Chennai: Even as Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from the Cabinet on Saturday, protesters gathered at the Communist Party of India (CPI) State Office in Chennai have not called off their demonstrations. Their primary demand remains the abolition of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), with a specific call for Tamil Nadu to be exempted from the exam.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which had been leading nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak, announced on social media platform X that they would withdraw their agitation across the country. The party stated that their demands—including Pradhan's resignation and compensation for families of students who died by suicide following the paper leak—had been met by the Union government. However, in Chennai, placards and speeches at the CPI office made it clear that the resignation was only the beginning of their struggle.

Thirumurugan Gandhi, a human rights activist and movement coordinator, told The Hindu: “While NEET abolition is the larger demand, we want assent from the Centre for the exemption of Tamil Nadu from NEET.” The state government has long opposed NEET, arguing that it disadvantages students from rural and marginalized backgrounds.

CJP organiser Isai Prakash, 32, clarified that the group’s withdrawal in Delhi did not signal a change in stance in the South. “The demand was met; they succeeded. It took 25 days to get the Education Minister to resign; we are willing to sit for 100 days, as long as the Centre gives the State control over education,” he said.

In the evening, Gandhi delivered a speech congratulating protesters on achieving a key demand. He suggested moving the protest to a larger venue, possibly Marina Beach, which has been closed to the public since Thursday amid ongoing demonstrations. “The Marina Beach has hosted screenings of football matches and IPL matches, so why not now?” Gandhi asked. “The party in power in Tamil Nadu agrees with the cause against NEET, so I don’t see why it should be an issue.”

The protests highlight the continuing political and educational tensions between the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre over NEET. The state has sought to replace the national exam with its own admission process, citing concerns about equity and regional autonomy.