Four members belonging to the Anti-NEET Federation-Tamil Nadu have launched an indefinite fast demanding abolition of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The fast entered the fourth day on Tuesday.

In a statement issued recently, the federation said that Tamil Nadu continues to oppose NEET. Following the Cockroach Janata Party-led protests over the NEET paper leak, the federation was formed by bringing together students, youth and social organisations to demand abolition of NEET, it said.

The federation launched an indefinite fast at Thiruvalluvar Illam, Koyambedu on August 1. Four members - Ravi, Mohan, Jeeva, and Dhanasekar - were observing the fast to urge the Union government to immediately abolish NEET and allow medical admissions on the basis of marks obtained in class XII board examination. The federation is also demanding the Union government to move education to State List.

The federation demanded the State government to expedite the proceedings in the Legislative Assembly and the courts. S. A. Manirathinam, the federation’s coordinator, said the State government should expedite efforts by convening an all party meeting and take up the necessary initiatives in the Assembly and courts.

Mr. Manirathinam is the brother of Anitha, a medical aspirant who ended her life in 2017 as she could not secure MBBS admission due to NEET mandate. She had also approached the Supreme Court challenging NEET then.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416, and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050).

Published - August 04, 2026 06:54 pm IST