Archive · 5 Sep 2026
Vijayan Writes Kharge Over Alleged Police Assault on SFI
Students protested after the full version of Vande Mataram was sung at a University of Kerala event.
The Students’ Federation of India said the programme followed an RSS agenda.
Police allegedly used batons to stop or control the protest.
Pinarayi Vijayan said female students were assaulted by male police officers.
He also said women police officers were not present.
Vijayan wrote to Mallikarjun Kharge, asking Congress leaders to change their approach.
He argued that only the first two stanzas had traditionally been sung to protect India’s pluralistic values.
The state government said it would follow Central protocol at events attended by the president, vice-president or prime minister.
Pinarayi Vijayan urged Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to intervene over alleged police action against SFI students at the University of Kerala.
Vijayan alleged that police conducted an unprovoked lathi charge and that male officers assaulted female students without women personnel present.
The protest followed the singing of the full version of Vande Mataram during a National Sports Day programme at the university.
The SFI alleged that the event reflected an RSS agenda and accused police of using force during its march.
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan said the state would follow Central protocol when senior constitutional officials attend government functions, while maintaining his party’s position on Vande Mataram.
- Who
- Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, SFI students, police and the UDF government are central to the report.
- What
- Vijayan protested alleged police assault on SFI students and criticised the government’s position on singing the full Vande Mataram.
- When
- The protest took place on Tuesday; the full song was also sung at a government Onam celebration on August 30.
- Where
- The protest occurred near the University of Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
- Why
- SFI protested the singing of the full version of Vande Mataram and what it described as an RSS-influenced programme.
Vijayan and SFI’s position
UDF government’s stated position
Police response to the protest
Vijayan and SFI’s position
Vijayan and the SFI alleged that police used force, including a brutal or unprovoked lathi charge, against protesters and women students.
UDF government’s stated position
The articles report the allegations but do not provide a detailed response from police or the UDF government about the specific incident.
Singing the full Vande Mataram
Vijayan and SFI’s position
Vijayan said the longstanding practice of singing only the first two stanzas protected pluralistic and constitutional values, and alleged that compulsory full-song singing advanced a Sangh Parivar position.
UDF government’s stated position
Chief Minister V D Satheesan said the state would follow prescribed Central protocol when the president, vice-president or prime minister attends a government function, while reiterating his party’s position on reciting Vande Mataram.
Government control of universities
Vijayan and SFI’s position
Vijayan criticised the state’s court position that the University Act could be amended to comply with UGC regulations, arguing that it accepted the Governor’s complete supremacy over universities.
UDF government’s stated position
The reported government position was that the University Act could be amended in accordance with UGC regulations; the articles do not provide a fuller explanation of its position on the Governor’s authority.
- Letter recipient
- Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the All India Congress Committee
- Alleged police action
- Pinarayi Vijayan alleged an unprovoked lathi charge and assault of female students by male personnel.
- Protest issue
- The protest concerned the singing of the full version of Vande Mataram.
- University event
- The song was sung during National Sports Day celebrations at the University of Kerala.
- Government direction
- Kerala departments had been directed to follow Central instructions to sing the full version at Independence Day-related programmes.
- August 30 event
- The full version was sung at a Kerala government Onam celebration in Thiruvananthapuram in the presence of Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan.
