TNCC to protest against Centre on extension given to CBI director, NEET issue

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai on Thursday said the party would organise a protest on Friday condemning the BJP-led Union government for granting one-year extension to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Praveen Sood.

The party would also protest against the Centre for not allowing States to conduct their own entrance examinations for medical admissions instead of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

In a statement, he said Mr. Sood had already been granted one-year extension from May 2025 after completing two years of service as the CBI director. He also pointed out that Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who is part of the selection committee to choose the CBI director along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, had objected to being provided only a list of 69 recommended officials instead of the full list.

Despite the objections raised by Mr. Gandhi, granting Mr. Sood a one-year extension was anti-democratic, Mr. Selvaperunthagai said. He also questioned the motive behind the extension and alleged that the CBI was being used as a puppet of the BJP-led Union government.

The cancellation of the recent NEET examination held on May 3 had come as a shock to students. The National Testing Agency, which conducts NEET, had failed in its duty, he charged. In Chennai, the party would stage a protest near the Tondiarpet post office at 10 a.m., in which senior Congress leaders would participate, he added.