Chennai, July 21: Udhayanidhi Stalin, the leader of the opposition in Tamil Nadu’s assembly, condemned the arrest of rapper and social activist Arivarsu Kalainesan, known as ‘Therukkural Arivu,’ on Tuesday.
Arivu was taken into custody during protests against the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Stalin accused the ruling DMK government of attempting to silence voices opposing this controversial medical entrance exam.
Kalainesan demonstrated outside the Tamil Nadu Secretariat in Chennai, urging Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to adopt a stricter stance against NEET and to expedite efforts to abolish it. Police removed him from the scene during the protest.
The situation took a turn when Kalainesan was brought back to the Secretariat and called in to meet the Chief Minister. During their meeting, he expressed his concerns about NEET and reiterated his demand for the state government to take a firmer political and legal stance on the issue. A viral video on social media showed Minister Adhav Arjun escorting him out of the Secretariat after the meeting.
Udhayanidhi stated that the government’s decision to detain Kalainesan before his meeting with the Chief Minister sent a contradictory message. In a post on the social media platform ‘X,’ the DMK leader referred to the rapper as his “dear brother.” He emphasized that Kalainesan’s protest reflects the sentiments of millions of students, parents, and common people who have long opposed NEET.
He noted that Kalainesan’s demonstration illustrates the growing public demand for the abolition of NEET. This issue has been politically sensitive in Tamil Nadu for many years. Udhayanidhi argued that detaining peaceful protesters is unnecessary and undermines the right to express oneself democratically.
The opposition leader also mentioned that protests against NEET are intensifying across the country. He pointed out that students and youth organizations are demonstrating against the exam in various locations, including New Delhi.
He warned that the detention of well-known voices like Kalainesan could discourage Tamil Nadu’s youth from participating in democratic protests against the exam. Udhayanidhi accused the NEET system of being riddled with irregularities, suggesting it has turned into a major scandal.
He urged governments to engage in dialogue with protesters rather than suppress their voices and to address the concerns of the public. He insisted that those advocating for the abolition of NEET should be heard instead of silenced.
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