Protesting SFI activists storm Kerala University, clash with cops

The Kerala University campus turned into a battlefield as workers of the SFI, the student wing of the CPI-M, stormed the varsity headquarters here on Tuesday, leading to a clash with the police.

The SFI activists were protesting against Governor Rajendra Arlekar’s alleged attempts to ‘saffronise’ the higher education sector in the state.

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The protestors entered the university building shouting slogans against the governor and Vice-Chancellor Mohanan Kunnummel as the police failed to obstruct their entry. Though water cannons were to stop them, some protesters were able to enter the administrative block while others entered through the windows of the university building and opened the doors to let others in. They also stormed the administrative block inside the campus.

Tensions prevailed as the intruders resisted the attempts of the police to evict them.

Despite a large police presence, the protesting SFI activists came close to the vice chancellor’s chamber. However, Vice-Chancellor in-charge Cisa Thomas was not at her office at the time. The protestors tried to open the doors of the VC’s chamber and raised slogans against the vice-chancellor. Some even snatched batons from the police. An additional police force was later deployed to manage the situation. Several activists were detained as the police tried to disperse the crowd.

It has been alleged that the police failed to take adequate steps to disperse the protesters. As per the eyewitness accounts, the police were seen standing by as muite spectators without stopping the surge of the protesters.

CPI-M state secretary MV Govindan came to the university, expressing solidarity with the protesters. He told reporters that the students of Kerala would not accept RSS influence in universities. “If the vice-chancellor tries to comply with RSS diktats, the student community and democratic organisations will not allow it to happen,” Govindan added.

The unrest follows Vice-Chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal’s decision to suspend registrar Anil Kumar over alleged misconduct. The university syndicate had revoked the suspension, but the interim VC overruled the move and appointed Mini Kappan as acting registrar.

The crisis began with a controversy over a ‘Bharat Mata’ portrait displayed during an event at the University’s Senate Hall on June 25. The even was attended by Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.

The VC suspended registrar KS Anil Kumar on July 2 for cancelling an event in which Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was an invitee. The suspension order accused the registrar of disrespect to the governor, who is also the University’s chancellor, by denying permission to the event.

On June 25, Anil Kumar cancelled the sanctioned order issued to the Sree Padmanabha Seva Samithi to organise an event at the University Senate Hall over the display of a portrait of the Bharat Mata on stage. However, the organizers went ahead with the programme. Governor Arlekar also participated in the programme.

Meanwhile, SFI activists also held protests at the University of Calicut and Kannur University. In Kannur, students held aloft a banner reading: “The Constitution is above all”.

In Calicut, protesters marched into the vice chancellor’s office and later to the VC’s residence, raising slogans against the governor.