Behind Vijay govt's move to withdraw order barring students from joining Left, CJP-like protests: 'Democratic win'

The Tamil Nadu government withdrew a controversial order on Wednesday that aimed to prevent students from joining protests organized by Leftist groups, including the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The decision came after the move sparked a controversy. The circular issued by the Commissioner of Collegiate Education on Saturday instructed college principals to coordinate and work with other departments, police, and district administrations to stop students from taking part in protests.

It requested immediate details of the actions taken. The directorate later announced that the circular had been rescinded.

The Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), hailed the withdrawal as a triumph for student democratic rights. SFI’s Tamil Nadu chief C Mrithula emphasized that the victory was not merely for their protest, but also a broader democratic triumph. She stressed that if students unite and voice their concerns, they can challenge the government. Mrithula also vowed that students' voices would not be silenced and vowed to continue fighting for their rights.

Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader Anbumani Ramadoss strongly opposed the Tamil Nadu government's attempt to limit the democratic rights of students. He argued that education and social justice are crucial for students' futures, and protests are a legitimate means to express dissatisfaction when these aspects are compromised. Ramadoss believed it was the government's duty to ensure that such protests do not cause law and order issues.

He criticized the government for infringing on students' democratic rights, especially when school education minister A Rajmohan had previously participated in a student protest against the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in Chennai. Ramadoss highlighted the historical significance of student protests in bringing about changes, both in India and globally, and called for students to be permitted to hold peaceful and democratic protests.