CHENNAI: Three members of the Anti-NEET Federation remained on an indefinite hunger strike on Monday, marking the tenth day of their fast, even as one of the original four protesters who fell ill was admitted to hospital and subsequently withdrew from the protest, organisers said.
Political support, video call and health concerns
On Monday the protesters took part in a video call with Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, who conveyed solidarity with their demand for a ban on the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). According to federation members, Abhijeet said he could not attend in person because of ill health.
“When I had gone to Delhi to support the protest organised by the Cockroach Janata Party, I had explained that banning NEET and bringing education under the State List were the only ways to resolve these issues,”
said Manirathinam, brother of S Anitha, who heads the Anti-NEET Federation. He added that Aishe Ghosh, national joint secretary of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), was likely to join the hunger strike on 20 August.
State government response and protesters' demands
On Sunday night, Health Minister KG Arunraj met the fasting students and urged them to end the hunger strike. The minister assured them that the state government would move a resolution against NEET in the Assembly, but sought 10 days to complete the process — a timeline the protesters rejected.
Protest organisers said they would call off the fast only if the government passed the resolution within two or three days. They also demanded the right to hold a continuous public protest against the Union government at a designated public place.
Numbers, status and immediate outcomes
The situation as described by the federation on Monday:
- Initial fasting members: 4
- Currently fasting: 3 (10 days)
- Hospitalisation: 1 protester admitted due to deteriorating health and withdrawn from fast
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Number fasting (initial) | 4 |
| Number fasting (current) | 3 |
| Duration | 10 days (for remaining three) |
| Government action | Health Minister promised Assembly resolution against NEET; requested 10 days |
Context and wider significance
Opposition to NEET in Tamil Nadu has been a recurring issue, with student groups and political parties arguing the examination disadvantages certain sections of applicants and infringes on the state's role in education policy. The demand to transfer education to the State List has been raised in different fora as a long-term solution by some activists; the federation reiterated that position during the call with Abhijeet.
The call for a swift Assembly resolution reflects the protesters’ concern that a delay could prolong their fast and heighten health risks. Medical attention for hunger strikers becomes a pressing concern the longer a fast continues; one participant was already hospitalised, underscoring that risk.
What the protesters want next
Federation leaders set out two immediate conditions for ending the hunger strike:
- Passage of a resolution in the Assembly against NEET within two or three days;
- Permission to stage a continuous public protest in a public place against the Union government.
Officials in the Health Ministry have asked for a limited period to process the resolution in the Assembly. No formal timeline has been announced by the state secretariat beyond the 10-day request communicated by the Health Minister during talks.
Next steps
Protesters said they would maintain their fast until their conditions were met or until a concrete timetable for the resolution was tabled in the Assembly. With national-level student leaders indicated to participate from 20 August, the campaign could see renewed mobilisation in the coming days unless the government and protesters reach an agreement.
Reporting from Chennai.
