Rapper Therukkural Arivu, detained during an anti-NEET protest outside the Secretariat, is later invited to meet CM Vijay and discuss his concerns over education policy.
Tamil rapper Therukkural Arivu was detained by police on Tuesday while staging a protest outside the Tamil Nadu Secretariat in Chennai, demanding that CM Vijay raise his voice against the NEET medical entrance examination. Arivu did not have prior permission for the protest. He was subsequently brought back to the Secretariat, where he was invited to meet CM Vijay in person and discuss his concerns over education policy.
Videos and reports from the scene show Arivu being detained by police during the protest before being brought back to the Secretariat for the meeting. Following his discussion with CM Vijay, he was accompanied by Minister Aadhav Arjuna up to the exit. During the meeting, Vijay explained the state government's legal strategy against NEET.
The detention drew swift criticism from the opposition. Tamil Nadu Assembly Opposition Leader Udhayanidhi Stalin condemned the arrest on social media, describing Arivu as his "dear brother" and saying his voice reflects the sentiments of lakhs of people across Tamil Nadu and the country, at a time when protests against NEET were intensifying nationwide.
Supporters of the government have instead framed CM Vijay's response — inviting Arivu in for a direct conversation rather than a confrontation — as consistent with the inclusive, accessible image he built during his campaign. The episode has generated significant public attention and debate on social media over how the detention was handled.
NEET Therukkural Arivu Education Policy CM Vijay July 21, 2026