Chennai: A human chain and sloganeering marked day nine of the ban-NEET protest organised by the Anti-NEET Federation in Koyambedu on Sunday.More than 50 protestors, including students and activists, held up placards and formed a human chain along Ayyappa Nagar first main road in Koyambedu seeking exemption for the state from NEET and urging the centre to save students. A section of protestors also played the traditional ‘parai’ instrument, wearing late B R Ambedkar’s mask. “People have been dropping by regularly. As it rained heavily, not many could gather, but there was a floating crowd. We will continue to protest until our demands are met” said D Shekar, a protester.Those on hunger strike — Pulianthope Mani, Jeeva and Dhanasekar — too shortly joined the rally and held up posters seeking a blanket ban on the exam. Organised on the heels of the Fair-NEET protests in Jantar Mantar, the Ban-NEET protest will enter its 10th day on Monday. One of the protesters was hospitalized on Thursday after coughing up blood.The primary demands are a state resolution spelling its stand against the exam, following which the hunger strike will be called off, and allocation of a public hall to continue the protest peacefully.
