The Tamil Nadu government has withdrawn a controversial directive that asked authorities to prevent students and young people from participating in protests and agitations organised by Left parties and the Tamil Nadu unit of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
The directive, issued by the Department of Collegiate Education, was withdrawn within days following political and public criticism.
What did the order say?
The directive had called for “appropriate, coordinated action” by the School Education Department, Higher Education Department, police and district administrations to discourage students and youth from participating in the protests.
Officials were also asked to submit reports on the action taken.
The order came amid protests in Tamil Nadu over alleged irregularities related to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), as well as student demonstrations organised by the CJP and Left parties.
Order withdrawn after backlash
The Department of Collegiate Education subsequently withdrew the directive.
In a communication issued by Joint Director of Collegiate Education Cynthia Selvi P, the department said its earlier communication had been withdrawn. The order was addressed to principals of government arts and science colleges across Tamil Nadu.
The directive had been issued on August 17 and was withdrawn shortly afterwards, according to reports.
CJP calls order ‘unconstitutional’
The Cockroach Janta Party criticised the government’s move. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das described the directive as ‘unconstitutional’ and “irrational”.
The BJP, however, supported the directive. BJP leader Vinoj P Selvam described the Left parties and the CJP’s Tamil Nadu unit as “agents of chaos” and alleged that their leaders were misleading students.
The controversy comes after the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government formed an alliance with several parties, including the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), as well as the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the Indian Union Muslim League.
The CJP has also been involved in student protests over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including demonstrations in Delhi.
The Tamil Nadu directive specifically named protests organised by Left parties and the CJP, prompting questions over why those organisations were singled out.
With the directive now withdrawn, the government’s earlier instruction to coordinate action against student participation in those protests will no longer remain in force.
