Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan on Thursday alleged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was providing political patronage to Students Federation of India (SFI) activists for that they would indulge in violence on the state's campuses.
Satheesan's comments came in the backdrop of a recent clash at Kerala University's Kariavattom campus, where Kerala Students' Union leader St Joseph was allegedly assaulted by SFI members.
"The CPI(M) student wing (SFI) is committing atrocities against students belonging to other student organisations. In almost every university campus in Kerala there are dark rooms controlled by the SFI," Satheesan told ANI. "Those who are against the SFI or are associated with any other student organization are taken to the dark room and tortured. This has been happening for a long time in Kerala. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan is giving political patronage to these criminals,” the Congress leader said. , he said representing Paravur Assembly constituency in Ernakulam district.
Earlier in the day, the Opposition raised the Karyavattom campus incident in the Assembly seeking an adjournment motion.
The Kerala Students Union has alleged that SFI members attacked KSU district leader St Joseph inside the Kerala University campus in Karyavattom on Tuesday night. The issue was raised as an adjournment motion moved by several members of Congress, including Mr. Vincent. The Chief Minister rejected the opposition's motion to adjourn the session.
Vijayan said conflicts on campus are undesirable and should be condemned. He further said that such actions should be taken against those responsible.
The Kerala chief minister also defended the SFI and described it as a long-standing organization with a proud history, unlike the KSU, whose influence he said had waned. "This is not a movement that grew up in the black wards. KSU used to dominate all educational institutions. How did you end up in your current state?” asked the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister also referred to the bomb attack on the AKG center and the defacing of a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi at the Congress office in Wayanad. He alleged that 35 people were killed simply for being members of the SFI. He challenged the KSU to provide a similar story and said the Congress was employing wrong means to spread its propaganda against the Left party.
With the Chief Minister's explanation, Speaker A. N. Shamseer rejected the Opposition's motion to adjourn the session. Speaking in the Assembly, Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan accused the Chief Minister of providing protection to campus violence with his statements .
"His repeated statements show that he has no intention of correcting this. The Chief Minister of Kerala is issuing licenses to beat people to death. After the Siddharth incident, Kerala thought that such events would not be repeated. Before the pain disappeared, another young man was subjected to mass justice. Who gave permission for such a brutal act? Instead of taking him to a hospital, they took him to a police station. The criminals are creating dungeons on campuses for their hunts. without anyone controlling them. Today you are unworthy of your position. You are the Chief Minister of Kerala, not a king," Satheesan said.
Vincent said that every university has "dungeons for SFI" and that their operations are not based on ideology but on coercion. He alleged that San José was forced to write a statement saying that he had no complaint, which was recorded. Vincent also said that police officers stood by while the assault took place. Due to the commotion caused by the debate between the opposition and the ruling party, the Assembly was suspended for the day.
On Wednesday, Kerala University vice-chancellor Mohan Kunnummal directed the Registrar to conduct an inquiry and submit a report on the alleged assault to KSU Thiruvananthapuram district general secretary Sam Jose.
The incident allegedly took place in the hostel room of the Kariavattom campus and the vice-chancellor demanded that the report be urgently submitted within 48 hours. According to the complaint, SFI activists assaulted Sam Jose, a member of the KSU, in the room in his hostel on Tuesday night. Following the incident, on the night of July 2-3, KSU activists staged a protest at the Sreekaryam police station, demanding action against those responsible for the attack.
In response, the police said they had registered a case against United Democratic Front (UDF) MLAs Chandy Oommen and M Vincent and other KSU activists as well as SFI members accused in the complaint filed by Sam Jose.
Satheesan's comments came in the backdrop of a recent clash at Kerala University's Kariavattom campus, where Kerala Students' Union leader St Joseph was allegedly assaulted by SFI members.
"The CPI(M) student wing (SFI) is committing atrocities against students belonging to other student organisations. In almost every university campus in Kerala there are dark rooms controlled by the SFI," Satheesan told ANI. "Those who are against the SFI or are associated with any other student organization are taken to the dark room and tortured. This has been happening for a long time in Kerala. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan is giving political patronage to these criminals,” the Congress leader said. , he said representing Paravur Assembly constituency in Ernakulam district.
Earlier in the day, the Opposition raised the Karyavattom campus incident in the Assembly seeking an adjournment motion.
The Kerala Students Union has alleged that SFI members attacked KSU district leader St Joseph inside the Kerala University campus in Karyavattom on Tuesday night. The issue was raised as an adjournment motion moved by several members of Congress, including Mr. Vincent. The Chief Minister rejected the opposition's motion to adjourn the session.
Vijayan said conflicts on campus are undesirable and should be condemned. He further said that such actions should be taken against those responsible.
The Kerala chief minister also defended the SFI and described it as a long-standing organization with a proud history, unlike the KSU, whose influence he said had waned. "This is not a movement that grew up in the black wards. KSU used to dominate all educational institutions. How did you end up in your current state?” asked the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister also referred to the bomb attack on the AKG center and the defacing of a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi at the Congress office in Wayanad. He alleged that 35 people were killed simply for being members of the SFI. He challenged the KSU to provide a similar story and said the Congress was employing wrong means to spread its propaganda against the Left party.
With the Chief Minister's explanation, Speaker A. N. Shamseer rejected the Opposition's motion to adjourn the session. Speaking in the Assembly, Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan accused the Chief Minister of providing protection to campus violence with his statements .
"His repeated statements show that he has no intention of correcting this. The Chief Minister of Kerala is issuing licenses to beat people to death. After the Siddharth incident, Kerala thought that such events would not be repeated. Before the pain disappeared, another young man was subjected to mass justice. Who gave permission for such a brutal act? Instead of taking him to a hospital, they took him to a police station. The criminals are creating dungeons on campuses for their hunts. without anyone controlling them. Today you are unworthy of your position. You are the Chief Minister of Kerala, not a king," Satheesan said.
Vincent said that every university has "dungeons for SFI" and that their operations are not based on ideology but on coercion. He alleged that San José was forced to write a statement saying that he had no complaint, which was recorded. Vincent also said that police officers stood by while the assault took place. Due to the commotion caused by the debate between the opposition and the ruling party, the Assembly was suspended for the day.
On Wednesday, Kerala University vice-chancellor Mohan Kunnummal directed the Registrar to conduct an inquiry and submit a report on the alleged assault to KSU Thiruvananthapuram district general secretary Sam Jose.
The incident allegedly took place in the hostel room of the Kariavattom campus and the vice-chancellor demanded that the report be urgently submitted within 48 hours. According to the complaint, SFI activists assaulted Sam Jose, a member of the KSU, in the room in his hostel on Tuesday night. Following the incident, on the night of July 2-3, KSU activists staged a protest at the Sreekaryam police station, demanding action against those responsible for the attack.
In response, the police said they had registered a case against United Democratic Front (UDF) MLAs Chandy Oommen and M Vincent and other KSU activists as well as SFI members accused in the complaint filed by Sam Jose.
