Members of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) staged a road blockade near the Kalaimadu Statue on Wednesday (July 22, 2026), demanding the abolition of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The protesters also condemned the detention of demonstrators who had taken part in similar protests in New Delhi and Chennai. Raising slogans against NEET and calling for Mr. Pradhan’s resignation, the students blocked traffic for a brief period. The police removed 10 SFI members who participated in the road blockade and cleared the protest.

Meanwhile, Congress Lawyers’ Wing secretary Rajendran had announced that he would observe a hunger strike near the Gandhi statue at Karungalpalayam in support of the same demands. Following the announcement, the police maintained a security presence in the area as a precautionary measure. However, Mr. Rajendran only garlanded the Gandhi statue and told the police that he would undertake the proposed hunger strike after obtaining permission from the court before leaving the venue.