With the Marina being under constant surveillance by the police, students who wanted to protest against NEET entered Jayalalithaa’s memorial to conduct their demonstration on Wednesday.
V. Mariappan, president of SFI, said, “The government shows scant regard to the demands of hundreds of students who have been agitating for abolition of NEET. The callous attitude of the government provokes us to intensify our agitation from Thursday. Former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa opposed the NEET tooth and nail. That is why we chose her memorial as the venue for the agitation. Moreover, the government claims that it follows the ideals set by former Chief Minister but failed to follow her in this issue.”
“The police are allowing politicians to meditate near the samadhi but deny us permission to fight for the cause of students,” said Mr. Mariappan. The protesters were removed from the spot.
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Immediately after Anitha committed suicide last Friday, several student organisations, political outfits and social activists have been conducting agitations and other forms of protest across the State.
Over 800 students gathered on the campus of New College in Royapettah and were blocked by police when they were about to come on to the road.
The students continued their agitation inside the campus demanding justice to the family of Anitha.
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A student spokesperson said, “The government should scrap NEET in the interest of students. The government should not allow NEET to claim another life in Tamil Nadu.”
Several students of Loyola College squatted in protest near the main entrance of the college campus for the second day. Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College students formed a human chain from Kuralagam to Parry’s Corner to show their solidarity with the agitating students.
Protesters chased away
SFI activists were chased by the police in Guindy as they attempted to conduct an agitation without permission.
Police did not arrest students who conducted their agitations inside their respective campuses.
Students of University of Madras, Government Arts College, Nandanam, A.M. Jain College and a few other colleges located on the city’s outskirts conducted their agitations.
The sprawling Marina beach has been under constant surveillance of police as the police force prohibited all forms of demonstrations in order to avoid a repeat of the massive jallikattu agitation in January.