Chennai: Ban-NEET protesters, who are currently on a hunger strike in the city, said they would not call off the agitation even after the Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday seeking the abolition of NEET for UG medical admissions.Earlier, a section of the protesters had said the hunger strike would be withdrawn if the govt passed a resolution, while the broader protest would continue in a peaceful manner until the exam was abolished. On Tuesday, the protesters changed their stand. “We were initially ready to call off the hunger strike if the state passed a resolution. But we realised it is important to continue the protest at a prominent venue. Only then will the Union govt would understand the seriousness,” said S Manirathinam, brother of S Anitha, who ended her life in 2017 over the exam.Organised by the Anti-NEET Federation on the heels of the recently concluded fair-NEET protest in New Delhi, the ban-NEET protest will enter its 12th day on Wednesday. Four members of the federation — Jeeva, Dhanasekar, Pulianthope Mohan and Ravi—had been on a hunger strike since Aug 1. Ravi was hospitalised on Thursday and returned to the venue on Monday evening.“Govt representatives have said that they will take the matter to the law minister and explore the possibility of giving us a venue. We are hopeful,” T Deepan, a protester, said.
