K'taka NEET candidate asked to remove 'janivara'

A candidate was allegedly asked to remove his janivara (the sacred thread worn largely by Brahmins) before writing the afternoon session of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) at St Mary's exam centre here on Sunday.

- Ramakrishna Badseshi @ Kalaburagi

The incident, coming at the back of similar faux pas during the Common Entrance Test just a few days ago, triggered a large-scale protest on the main road in front of the college.

Activists from both sub-sects of Brahmins, Smarta and Vaishnava, also Lingayats and Dalits joined the protest.

Sudhir Patil, father of the candidate Sripad Patil, said his son came out of the exam centre with tears in his eyes and said officials were insisting on him removing the janivara before allowing him into the exam hall. On Sudhir's advice, Sripad removed the janivara and went to write the test.