Tamil Nadu government withdraws ban on student participation in CJP and Left protests

The Tamil Nadu government, led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, has withdrawn a controversial directive that sought to prevent students and youth from participating in protests organized by Left parties and the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP).

The original order, issued on August 14, instructed university registrars, school and higher education departments, police, and district administrations to take coordinated action to ensure students did not join these specific political demonstrations. The directive was marked as “most immediate,” requiring colleges to report on actions taken to prevent student involvement.

The move drew sharp criticism from the CJP, which labeled the order “unconstitutional,” “illogical,” and “irrational,” arguing that it infringed upon the democratic right to peaceful protest. While the BJP supported the directive, arguing students should focus on education, the government reversed its stance on August 19 following the political backlash. The withdrawal means the restrictions on student participation in CJP and Left-led agitations are no longer in effect.