The mega rally held on Thursday, February 1, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, witnessed the convergence of various student organizations united under the banner of United Students of India. The rally aimed at advocating the rejection of the National Education Policy (NEP) and expressing opposition to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under the slogan ‘Reject NEP, Save Education. Reject BJP, Save India.’
Key figures, including Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development, Tamil Nadu, and Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, the Minister of School Education, flagged off the rally. Mayukh Biswas, the General Secretary of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), and VP Sanu, the President of SFI, along with other representatives from various student organizations, were also present.
The rally concluded with a public meeting where representatives from 16 student organizations addressed the gathering. VP Sanu, the All India President of SFI, emphasized the perceived dismantling of public education by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-Bharatiya Janata Party (RSS-BJP)-led Central Government. He also criticized the alleged misuse of state apparatus, such as the position of governor, to undermine the federal structure.
G Aravindhaswamy, the Tamil Nadu State Secretary of SFI, stressed the importance of a progressive and democratic student community in opposing the NEP 2020 and defending public education.
The United Students of India had previously organized a rally at Jantar Mantar in Delhi in January, marking the first phase of their protest. The second phase concluded in Chennai on February 1, and a third protest rally is scheduled to take place in Kolkata in March 2023. Dipshita Dhar, the All India Joint Secretary of SFI, highlighted the alliance’s anti-BJP stance and its commitment to a progressive agenda focused on students rather than hate and religious divisions promoted by the ruling party.
