SFI Activists Detained in Chennai Over NEET-UG Results Protest

On Tuesday, Chennai Police detained at least 20 activists from the Student Federation of India (SFI) for attempting to block a public road during a protest against alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exam results.

The Left-leaning student activists gathered outside the city’s Shastri Bhavan to voice their grievances. When they tried to enter the building, police intervened, leading the protesters to block the road instead.

Arun, an SFI member, spoke to the media during the protest, stating, “NEET has been robbing opportunities from poor students ever since it was introduced. Police detained us immediately, not allowing us to protest. NEET is anti-poor and against social justice.”

The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting the NEET exam, faced controversy this year due to grace marks awarded that resulted in 67 candidates achieving the first rank. The sharp increase in the cut-off marks also fueled student discontent. Despite the criticism, the NTA maintained that the high cut-off and number of top rankers reflected the competitive nature of the exam and asserted that the test’s integrity remained intact.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also criticized the NEET-UG results, labeling the exam as “anti-poor” and detrimental to social justice. He argued that such exams undermine federal principles and affect the availability of doctors in underserved areas. Stalin called for a thorough investigation into the matter.

Additionally, DMK MP K Kanimozhi, Stalin’s younger daughter, pledged to raise the issue in Parliament. “We filed a case, we are fighting against NEET. We will raise NEET in Parliament. Now the whole country is seeing how NEET is unfair and has wronged the students,” she asserted.