Anti-NEET Federation Holds Anitha Remembrance Event at Besant Nagar

Around 60 members of the Anti-NEET Federation, led by medical aspirant S Anitha’s brother Manirathnam, gathered at Besant Nagar on Tuesday to hold a remembrance event marking her ninth death anniversary.

Participants lit candles in memory of Anitha during the gathering. Speaking at the venue, Manirathnam questioned the decision of authorities to deny official permission for the event. He stated that organizers had submitted their application 15 days in advance, but police issued a letter on Monday characterizing the proposed remembrance programme as a protest.

Manirathnam said the event would have been organized on a much larger scale had permission been granted in time. He added that the federation’s demands align with the government’s own position opposing the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and seeking the transfer of education back to the State List.

In addition to the gathering at Besant Nagar, a remembrance programme was held at Periyar Thidal. Dravidar Kazhagam president K Veeramani and representatives from the DMK, VCK, and Communist parties took part in that event.

The denial of police permission for the Besant Nagar gathering was also raised in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin questioned the administration over why a remembrance programme was classified and treated as a protest.

Responding to the query in the Assembly, Minister Aadhav Arjuna stated that the decision was taken due to traffic management and law-and-order considerations stemming from an ongoing church festival in the Besant Nagar locality.