Kerala Assembly: CM, Opposition spar over campus violence as House adjourned for the day amid protests

Kerala Assembly witnesses fierce debate between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and UDF Opposition which accused the former of extending political patronage to SFI members allegedly involved in campus violence

The Kerala Assembly on July 4 witnessed a fierce debate between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition which accused the former of extending political patronage to Students’ Federation of India (SFI) members allegedly involved in campus violence across the State.

The House was adjourned for the day amid protests by the Opposition against Speaker A.N. Shamseer’s decision to deny leave for an adjournment motion to debate an incident where a Kerala Students Union (KSU) leader was reportedly assaulted by SFI activists at Kerala University’s Karyavattom campus a day ago.

The adjournment motion, spearheaded by UDF legislators M. Vincent, N.A. Nellikkunnu, Mons Joseph, Mani C. Kappan and K.K. Rema, put the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government on the defensive. It provided the Opposition an opportunity to renew allegations of ‘torture rooms’ linked to SFI, echoing charges raised a few months ago following the death of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) student Sidharthan J.S., who purportedly killed himself after being subjected to ragging.

Mr. Vincent accused SFI activists of assaulting him and fellow Congress legislator Chandy Oommen, and also accused police officers of standing idly by during the incident outside the Sreekaryam police station. “The high-handed approach of SFI has instil a sense of fear across campuses, prompting several students to pursue higher education elsewhere,” he added.

The Chief Minister, however, defended both the CPI(M)’s student outfit and the police, commending the latter for “impartially” managing the tense situation. Four cases have been registered by the Sreekaryam police, and one by the Medical College police in Thiruvananthapuram, in connection with the controversy, he said.

Mr. Vijayan, who urged universities and political parties to work together to curb campus violence, recounted past instances of aggression towards SFI members by KSU. He also delved into the destruction of Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait at Congress leader’s Rahul Gandhi office in Wayanad, purportedly by KSU workers, and the attack on AKG Centre allegedly by Youth Congress activists.

The Chief Minister’s remarks provoked strong reactions from the Opposition, which accused Mr. Vijayan of condoning violence, paving way for an intense verbal sparring between him and Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan.