Dozens detained as Tamil Nadu braces for the next storm — Anitha

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu returned to the brink of a potent expression of public anger after the death of S Anitha, who killed herself in despair over her failure to obtain medical admission despite scoring very high marks in Plus 2.

Protests erupted across the State, mostly by youth and smaller opposition parties, which were immediately brought under control by police. But more are in store for Saturday, when a number of outfits will stage agitations in front of central and state government offices.

Fearing a repeat of the jallikattu protests that quickly spiralled out of their control, police have already begun to take many into preventive custody. But it remains to be seen if this would help quell the fire.

The anger would be directed against the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and perhaps even Nirmala Sitharaman, the speculated future face of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, who had assured the State Board students that Tamil Nadu would receive an exemption from NEET through an ordinance.

The State government and the leaders here, too, are sure to come under heavy fire from the protestors for the way the whole matter was dragged till the very end. All the while, there were thousands of students waiting for their dream medical seat, a hope that was fuelled by the government here.

What would surely make things worse for the ruling AIADMK is the reaction from at least a section of their leaders, including an IT wing office-bearer who raised questions about Anitha’s “sponsors” who helped her file the case at the Supreme Court and paid for her flight ticket.

Hari Prabhakaran, the joint secretary of the IT wing and also a member of the social media team of deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, has since put Anitha’s image as his profile photo, though the damage has already been done.

Hw such a poor girl https://t.co/FhsK3t8QFe afford to file a case in SC whic costs laks&who paid her flight expenses?whos d sponsor? #Anitha

— Hari Prabhakaran (@Hariadmk) September 1, 2017