Keralam will not allow students’ protests to be suppressed: Viswam

Communist Party of India (CPI) State secretary Binoy Viswam has declared that the state of Keralam will not tolerate any suppression of student protests against the communalization of education. In a statement, Viswam strongly condemned the violent lathi charge carried out by the police against Students' Federation of India (SFI) activists, including female students.

Kerala has a long-standing tradition of student movements protesting issues that impact the education sector and the state. Such demonstrations have often involved violent beatings and sacrifices. The United Democratic Front (UDF) government has been actively repressing these student protests in order to align with the Right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government, Viswam alleged.

During the national movement, discussions were held regarding the anti-secular nature of Vande Mataram. This is why national leaders like Gandhi and Nehru believed that the later stanzas should not be recognized as the national song. The amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, which requires the full rendition of Vande Mataram, was introduced by Hindutva forces to alienate religious minorities, Viswam pointed out. This measure should be resisted by all democratic and secular forces.

However, the V.D. Satheesan-led UDF government has been demonstrating its allegiance to the Union government by targeting protesting students, according to Viswam.