Sree Sankaracharya University protest continues for 109 days; Vijayan visits students

Kochi: CPI(M) veteran Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday visited students protesting at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in Kalady and expressed solidarity with their agitation, which has been continuing for 109 days. Vijayan met the students, who have been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past 13 days under the leadership of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) at the university gate, and enquired about their health.

Addressing the protesters later, the Leader of the Opposition said the entire state supports the agitation as the university had adopted an "illegal and inhuman" approach towards them. The students participating in the agitation were not fighting merely for their own interests, he said, adding that the protest would go down as a decisive episode in Keralam's history.

"Nobody should harbour the illusion that the future of these students can be destroyed," Vijayan said, adding that the agitation will continue until the government and university authorities correct their mistakes. CPI(M) Central Committee member P Rajeev, Ernakulam district secretary S Satheesh and SFI state secretary P S Sanjeev were among those who accompanied Vijayan.

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Vijayan alleges Congress double standards

In a post on X later, Vijayan alleged that the Congress leadership in Keralam was colluding with the Sangh Parivar to suppress student dissent, even as the party claimed to be fighting the RSS in Delhi. He said students of the university had been under suspension for over 70 days for staging a satirical street play and were being denied the opportunity to appear for examinations.

Accusing the Congress of double standards, the veteran said it could not defend democracy in Delhi while suppressing dissent in Keralam. He also called for solidarity with the protesting students and support for their right to dissent. Sixteen students were suspended following an SFI-led protest during a syndicate meeting on August 13 over the alleged lack of adequate facilities on the campus.

The students were accused of staging a "mock cremation" of Vice-Chancellor Ciza Thomas, manhandling her and attempting to damage university property. A single judge of the Keralam High Court had directed the university to allow the students to appear for examinations.

However, a division bench subsequently stayed the order. The students then approached the Supreme Court, which directed the single judge to decide the matter. The university had offered to revoke the suspension of 10 of the 16 students if they tendered an apology, but they refused to do so.