Cinema VinesActor and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has returned to the national spotlight after months of silence, addressing the wave of student protests that have erupted across India over the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). In a lengthy post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Vijay condemned the detention of opposition leader Rahul Gandhi during a sit‑in outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, calling the arrest of “several leaders—including the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha—undemocratic.” He reiterated his party’s long‑standing position that the NEET system should be abolished, arguing that it “severely affects not only students but also their families” and is a tool of vote‑bank politics.
Vijay’s message came after the Chalo Sansad march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament on the first day of the Monsoon session, during which police used lathi charges and tear gas to disperse demonstrators. The march, which sought the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, sparked a nationwide outcry and prompted several celebrities to speak out. Alongside Vijay, actors Prakash Raj and Shabana Azmi, rapper Hanumankind, and others joined the protest in Delhi, while Gurfateh Pirzada, Pratibha Ranta, Shalini Pandey and Akasa Singh marched in Mumbai and rapper Arivu participated in Chennai, where he was briefly detained by police.
In his X note, Vijay urged the Union Government to “respect the sentiments of our people and our students” and to scrap NEET entirely, stating that this was the only viable solution. He added that the Tamil Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) would continue to support the protests organized by opposition parties, emphasizing that the party’s stance had not changed since the elections. Vijay’s remarks come at a time when the NEET controversy has dominated political discourse, with students demanding reforms and calling into question the fairness of the examination system.
Vijay’s intervention underscores the growing convergence between politics, cinema, and social activism in India. While his earlier campaigns focused on NEET irregularities, his recent silence had raised eyebrows, especially given his alliance with the Congress. By re‑asserting his position and aligning with student demands, Vijay reaffirms his commitment to addressing the concerns of the youth and the broader electorate.
