The Tamil Nadu government has withdrawn a controversial order that prohibited students from participating in protests organized by Left parties and the Cocroach Janata Party. This initial notification, issued on August 14, had instructed various government departments, including education and police, to take measures to prevent students from joining demonstrations. The order faced significant backlash from various quarters, leading to its revocation on Wednesday. This reversal highlights the importance of student activism and freedom of expression within the state, with the government responding to public and student concerns.

The Tamil Nadu government has withdrawn a controversial order that prohibited students from participating in protests organized by Left parties and the Cocroach Janata Party. This initial notification, issued on August 14, had instructed various government departments, including education and police, to take measures to prevent students from joining demonstrations. The order faced significant backlash from various quarters, leading to its revocation on Wednesday. This reversal highlights the importance of student activism and freedom of expression within the state, with the government responding to public and student concerns.

The Tamil Nadu government has withdrawn a controversial order that prohibited students from participating in protests organized by Left parties and the Cocroach Janata Party. This initial notification, issued on August 14, had instructed various government departments, including education and police, to take measures to prevent students from joining demonstrations. The order faced significant backlash from various quarters, leading to its revocation on Wednesday. This reversal highlights the importance of student activism and freedom of expression within the state, with the government responding to public and student concerns.

The Tamil Nadu government has withdrawn a controversial order directing authorities to prevent students from participating in protests organised by Left parties and the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), following intense backlash from opposition parties and other quarters.

In a notification issued on August 14, the Joseph Vijay-led government directed the departments of school education, higher education, police and district administration to take coordinated measures to prevent students from participating in agitation programmes organised by these outfits. It also directed schools and colleges to submit action-taken reports by August 20.

Following the government order, the Collegiate Education Department directed government arts and science colleges to take "appropriate coordinated joint action" to prevent students and young people from participating in protests and agitations.

The department withdrew the order on Wednesday after it triggered protests and criticism.

DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai likened the move to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Dimagi Naxal' reference and alleged that Chief Minister Vijay was opposing the CJP as he is afraid of the BJP.

"During the election campaign, Mr. Vijay exhorted children to beseech their parents to vote for him. Now students and youngsters should not participate in protests," Annadurai said in a post on X.

CJP national co-convener Saurav Das called the government's order "unconstitutional", "illogical" and "irrational".

Tamil Nadu had witnessed protests across the state as part of a nationwide student agitation against alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG and other competitive examinations, with protesters also demanding the resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.