Coimbatore: Members of the Students Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) staged a protest in Coimbatore on Wednesday, condemning a state government circular that sought to prevent college students and youth from participating in protests organised by Left parties and the Citizen’s Justice Party (CJP). The protest took place near the office of the Joint Director of Collegiate Education at Race Course.
Government Circular Sparks Outrage Among Student Organisations
The directive, issued by the Directorate of Collegiate Education, called for coordinated action to prevent students of government arts and science colleges and other youth from engaging in protests and agitations associated with Left-wing organisations and the CJP. The circular faced immediate criticism from student bodies, who alleged that it selectively targeted certain political groups and infringed upon students’ democratic rights.
SFI and DYFI members in Coimbatore raised slogans against the government, demanding that students be allowed to participate in peaceful democratic protests. They condemned what they described as attempts to restrict political expression among the student community.
Protests Linked to National Issues, Circular Withdrawal
The issue is reportedly linked to ongoing protests over the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and alleged irregularities, with SFI and DYFI having organised demonstrations across Tamil Nadu in solidarity with students protesting in Delhi. However, on Wednesday, the Directorate of Collegiate Education withdrew the controversial circular following widespread protests and criticism. The reversal came after student organisations questioned the directive’s specific mention of the CJP and Left parties.
The protesters welcomed the withdrawal, viewing it as a victory for students’ right to peaceful expression. They urged the authorities to ensure that no similar restrictions are imposed in the future, highlighting the importance of maintaining democratic space for student activism.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that in July 2026, DYFI and SFI activists had protested in Coimbatore demanding the abolition of NEET, the resignation of the Union Education Minister, and the release of students detained during protests in New Delhi. Approximately 40 protesters had marched from Coimbatore Railway Station to the BSNL office, where they staged a sit-in and raised slogans against the Union government. Police had intervened to disperse the protest and detained the demonstrators after a brief scuffle.
In another related incident, members of SFI and DYFI were arrested in Tiruppur city in July 2026 after they staged a protest march from the Railway Station to the Head Post Office, burning an effigy of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. They demanded the Minister’s resignation and protested against the police crackdown on protesting students in Delhi and Chennai. Police used mild force to arrest the students and extinguish the fire.
Further, SFI activists staged statewide protests across Kerala in July 2026, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in NEET examinations. In Thiruvananthapuram, SFI organised a march to Lok Bhavan. Activists clashed with police in multiple districts, including Kochi, Thrissur, and Alappuzha, where students stood their ground despite repeated use of water cannons. In Kannur, tensions rose during an SFI march when police used water cannons to remove protesters from a police vehicle. Several student protesters were detained in Pathanamthitta. The SFI had called for an all-India Education Bandh to protest police action in Delhi and demanded Pradhan’s resignation.
The Directorate of Collegiate Education’s decision to withdraw the circular on Wednesday came after considerable public and student backlash. The circular, dated August 17, 2026, had caused a stir among various student and political organisations. Following the protests, Joint Director of Collegiate Education Cynthia Selvi P issued an order stating that the department’s earlier communication had been withdrawn, addressing the principals of all Government Arts and Science Colleges across Tamil Nadu.
The Chenab Times News Desk