Police detain a protester during an anti-NEET demonstration near BSNL office on State Bank Road in Coimbatore on Wednesday.
\| Photo Credit: S. SIVA SARAVANAN

Members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) staged a protest in Coimbatore on Wednesday (July 22) demanding the abolition of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and the release of students detained during protests in New Delhi.

Nearly 40 protesters marched from the Coimbatore Railway Station to the BSNL office near the Collectorate, where they launched a sit-in. They raised slogans against the Union government and demanded the immediate withdrawal of NEET and the resignation of the Union Education Minister.

Police intervened to disperse the protest and detained the demonstrators after a brief scuffle. Several protesters were carried away and taken into custody.

Speaking to reporters, DYFI Coimbatore district secretary Dinesh Raja condemned the alleged police action against students and youth in New Delhi, including activist Sonam Wangchuk, during protests. He alleged that the Delhi Police had used force against peaceful protesters and demanded the unconditional release of all those detained.

Mr. Raja also criticised the Tamil Nadu Police, alleging that peaceful protesters belonging to the DYFI and SFI had been detained in Coimbatore, Chennai, Madurai and Mayiladuthurai. He questioned why the Tamil Nadu government, which has consistently opposed NEET, was not permitting students to hold peaceful demonstrations against the examination. He urged the State government to establish a designated protest venue in Coimbatore, similar to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, where students and members of the public could hold peaceful demonstrations.

He said the organisations had planned a 48-hour sit-in in Coimbatore and would continue their agitation even if participants were detained. He added that the movement against NEET and the National Education Policy would intensify across Tamil Nadu until their demands were addressed.

Meanwhile, members of the Coimbatore unit of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) staged a protest at Jeeva Illam near the Flower Market in the city. The demonstration began with a candlelight tribute to students who had reportedly ended their lives owing to NEET. The protesters reiterated their demand for the abolition of the entrance examination and sought the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Tiruppur

Members of the SFI and the DYFI were arrested in Tiruppur city after they lighted an effigy of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan while taking out a protest march from the Railway Station to the Head Post Office.

They demanded the Minister’s resignation and raised slogans against the police crackdown on protesting students at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, and those in Chennai.

The police used mild force to arrest the students and put out the fire.

Published - July 22, 2026 08:02 pm IST