The Kerala University campus here has become a battleground on Thursday with Left-affiliated student and youth organisations protesting against the vice-chancellor and the governor, who is also the chancellor of the university, over the suspension of the registrar and alleged saffronisation of the universities in the state.
The agitation, targeting Governor Rajendra Arlekar and Vice-Chancellor in-charge Mohanan Kunnummal, began when activists of the All India Students Federation (AISF) breached police barricades to enter the campus. Soon after, members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) marched towards the university and attempted to cross police lines, prompting the law enforcers to use water cannons. Later, All India Youth Federation (AIYF) activists also arrived on the scene, leading to further police action. .
Outside the university, members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) gathered in large numbers. Some climbed the barricades, faced several rounds of water cannons, and clashed with police personnel. The protesters were later arrested and removed by the heavily deployed police.
Meanwhile, the March staged by the SFI, the student arm of CPI-M, to Raj Bhavan here against Governor Arlekar’s bid to “saffronise” state-funded universities turned violent.
Hundreds of SFI activists marched behind a lengthy cloth banner slamming Raj Bhavan-appointed temporary Vice-Chancellor of Kerala University Mohanan Kunnumal calling him a “Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) stooge”.
The police tried to prevent the protest using barricades. But the activists climbed atop the barricades set up on the road to the governor’s residence and refused to disperse despite repeated rounds of water cannons. The police could not use water cannons as the water in the tank finished. The police have warned to use tear gas However, despite the warning, the protest continued.