Chennai: “A small group has gathered here to save ‘jananayagam’ (democracy) today. At the same time, a large crowd has gone to watch ‘Jana Nayagan’ (chief minister C Joseph Vijay’s movie). We may be a smaller crowd, but we are smarter,” said actor and director Ameer Sultan at a gathering organised by Neelam NGO at Egmore on Thursday.The gathering, expressing solidarity with the Delhi protest by Cockroach Janata Party and students, was the first event by Neelam’s Students Movement (NSM), said Pa Ranjith, director and founder of the NGO. More than 150 people, mostly youngsters dressed in black, sat in front of a stage with a backdrop that read ‘No More NEET’.Director Vetrimaaran and film artists Revathi, Andrea and Arivu were among others who voiced their support for the student protests across the country against NEET irregularities. Amid repeated references to the Vijay-starrer that released on Thursday, some of the placards held out by youngsters said the CM remained silent on the issues confronting students.Music composer James Vasanthan said youngsters have come together to protest regardless of political support. “It’s a sad state of affairs when a student kills oneself in the name of studying. (The suicide of) Anitha was the biggest eye opener. Students in villages fear NEET,” he said. A few raised placards which read, ‘Education is for life, not death’.“If students protest, it shows the failure of the govt,” said Vetrimaaran. He said he had seen the impact of NEET through the experiences of his friends’ children.Revathi, referring to Sonam Wangchuk’s fast in Delhi, said, “Even today, someone has to fast. This is the state of the country. I am sorry that my generation did not do this (the protest). Hats off to Gen-Z!”Ranjith said BJP was suppressing student voices; he condemned the police action against protesters. “If Tamil Nadu govt says it is against fascism, why are students being beaten? Who gave police the right to attack protesting students?” he said, adding that govt must give space for students to protest peacefully.
