‘Unbecoming of his position’: Minister Roji M. John slams Kerala University V-C Mohanan Kunnummal for attending RSS event
‘V-Cs have to show the propriety to stay away from such political events considering the stature of the office they are holding’, says Minister
Kerala's Higher Education Minister Roji M. John expressed strong disapproval of University of Kerala Vice-Chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal's participation in an event organized by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on August 15, 2026 in Thiruvananthapuram. John labeled it as "unbecoming of his stature" and criticized the continued involvement of Vice-Chancellors in such political gatherings, emphasizing that they must demonstrate propriety by avoiding such events.
The Minister commented on Kunnummal's statement that those opposing the singing of Vande Mataram "did not know who their mother was," clarifying that his remark was part of a broader speech and he intended to refer to the "motherland." John also alleged that Kunnummal's appointment as Vice-Chancellor was part of a "1:1 deal" between the previous Left government and the Governor, where Kunnummal was appointed along with a Communist Party of India (Marxist) nominee for another university's leadership.
Responding to a tragic incident involving a 20-year-old B. Tech student from Arunachal Pradesh who died at Mar Athanasius College of Engineering, John mentioned the college's agreement to follow the decision of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technological University to abolish the 'year back' system. He further informed that the United Democratic Front had persuaded the reconstituted Syndicate of KTU to discontinue the system following student concerns.
The Minister pledged to facilitate the student's body's return to his hometown after the post-mortem examination, conducted at the Government Medical College, Ernakulam, in the presence of the family members.
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