Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C. Joseph Vijay on Wednesday, 22 July broke his silence on the escalating nationwide controversy over NEET, condemning the detention of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders in New Delhi and describing the police action against student protesters as ‘undemocratic.’

Vijay's Statement on X

Issuing his remarks via a post on social media platform X, Vijay declared that TVK stood firmly alongside Opposition parties who had gathered inside the Parliament complex following a police crackdown on demonstrators participating in the 'Sansad Chalo' march. He also reiterated the party's unwavering opposition to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), stating that TVK has consistently demanded its permanent abolition since the party's founding.

“NEET has caused immense hardship to students and their families,” Vijay said, adding that his party would not exploit the issue for electoral gains by making hollow promises.

Structural Reforms Proposed

Going beyond a simple call for abolition, Vijay outlined both a permanent and an interim solution. He argued that the lasting fix was to transfer education from the Concurrent List to the State List under the Constitution, allowing individual states to frame their own admission policies. As an interim measure, he proposed that the Centre create a Special Concurrent List to grant states greater autonomy over school and medical education. He noted that TVK had formally articulated both proposals at the party's educational awards function and urged the Centre to honour the sentiments of students and the people of Tamil Nadu by withdrawing NEET.

The 'Sansad Chalo' March and Detentions

The Chief Minister's statement comes amid intensifying protests across India over allegations of question paper leaks, examination irregularities, and concerns about the transparency of the medical entrance exam. On Monday, thousands of students, youth organisations, and political activists participated in the 'Sansad Chalo' march in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, justice for affected students, and comprehensive reforms to the examination system.

The demonstration was met with heavy police deployment, barricading, and baton charges as protesters attempted to advance toward Parliament. Several demonstrators were detained, including Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders who had joined the march in solidarity with students.

Protests Spread to Tamil Nadu

In Tamil Nadu, student organisations and political parties staged parallel demonstrations condemning the police action in Delhi while renewing their long-standing demand for the abolition of NEET. This is not the first time the state has been at the forefront of anti-NEET agitation — Tamil Nadu has passed legislative resolutions against the exam multiple times, and the issue has claimed student lives in the state in past years, adding a deeply personal dimension to the political mobilisation.

What Comes Next

With Opposition parties escalating pressure inside and outside Parliament and state governments like Tamil Nadu amplifying demands for constitutional change, the Centre faces mounting political heat over its handling of the NEET controversy. Whether the government moves to address the structural concerns raised — or holds its position on a centralised entrance exam — will shape the next phase of this standoff.