Vande Mataram row: Clash erupts at Central University of Kerala during SFI-led protest; police use water cannon
Latest unrest follows protests against a two-day seminar held at the university recently and the disciplinary action taken against students in its aftermath
On Friday, a clash erupted at the Central University of Kerala (CUK) during a march organized by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) against a Vande Mataram seminar and the suspension of students. The police deployed water cannons to deter protesters from breaching barricades, leading to violent confrontations between the police and the students.
The demonstrators persist in their agitation, as heavy police presence has been established throughout the campus. The recent unrest follows protests against a two-day seminar held at the university library hall in collaboration with the Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad. This seminar, organized with the Muslim Students Federation and the All India Students Federation, drew opposition from various student groups, who accused it of promoting the Sangh Parivar’s agenda on the campus.
Tensions rose when the Governor arrived to attend the program. Protests saw participants chanting slogans, approaching the venue, and attempting to disrupt the seminar. The university suspended several students, including the SFI unit secretary, due to their involvement in disrupting an official university event. The police registered a case against 25 students, further inflaming the tensions on campus.
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