3 hrs ago
SFI Secretariat March Turns Tense Over University Police Action
The Students' Federation of India, or SFI, held protests in Kerala.
The group said police hurt students during an earlier protest at the University of Kerala.
It named Arya Prasad and Vaishnavi Shaji as two injured leaders who were taken to a hospital.
SFI then marched to the Keralam Secretariat to demand an investigation and action against the police personnel involved.
Another SFI march in Palakkad also became tense, and police used water cannons.
SFI said protesters were injured by police force.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala gave a different account.
He said police used water cannons only after protesters confronted and attacked officers.
The Students' Federation of India marched to the Keralam Secretariat on Wednesday over alleged police action against student leaders at the University of Kerala.
SFI said police used excessive force against protesters, including women students, and that Arya Prasad and Vaishnavi Shaji were injured and hospitalised.
The protests followed an SFI demonstration against a Kerala University programme where “Vande Mataram” was sung in full, which SFI alleged reflected an RSS agenda.
Police used water cannons and minor force during the Secretariat march, while SFI claimed several activists were injured in a lathi charge.
A separate Palakkad march also faced water cannons; Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said police acted only after protesters confronted and attacked officers.
- Who
- The Students' Federation of India, student leaders Arya Prasad and Vaishnavi Shaji, Kerala police, and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala.
- What
- SFI held protests over alleged police action during a Kerala University demonstration, while the government defended the police response.
- Where
- The protests occurred at the University of Kerala and the Keralam Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, with another march at the Palakkad SP Office.
- When
- The Secretariat march took place on Wednesday, September 2, after clashes during a demonstration on Tuesday.
- Why
- SFI was protesting alleged police assaults on students and objecting to a Kerala University programme it said reflected an RSS agenda.
SFI's Allegations
Government's Defense
Police use of force
SFI's Allegations
SFI alleged that police brutally assaulted activists, including women students, and that Arya Prasad and Vaishnavi Shaji suffered head and facial injuries.
Government's Defense
Ramesh Chennithala said police used water cannons only after protesters confronted and attacked police personnel.
Cause of the university protest
SFI's Allegations
SFI said the Kerala University programme, including singing “Vande Mataram” in full, was conducted in accordance with an RSS agenda and protested what it described as the saffronisation of universities.
Government's Defense
Chennithala questioned the protests and said he did not understand which student demand had been denied.
Purpose and character of the agitation
SFI's Allegations
SFI said it was seeking an investigation and action against police personnel responsible for the alleged assaults, and intensified protests at the Secretariat and district centres.
Government's Defense
Chennithala questioned the need for large-scale protests against a government that had been in office for 100 days and alleged that internal Communist Party of India (Marxist) differences were being projected through student protests.
Key facts
- Protesting organisation
- Students' Federation of India (SFI), described as the student wing of the opposition Communist Party of India (Marxist)
- Main protest
- A march to the Keralam Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, September 2
- Student leaders named
- Arya Prasad and Vaishnavi Shaji
- SFI's allegations
- Police used excessive force against protesters, including women students; SFI said the two leaders suffered head and facial injuries and were hospitalised
- Triggering university incident
- An SFI protest followed a Kerala University event during National Sports Day celebrations where “Vande Mataram” was sung in full
- Palakkad protest
- Police used water cannons during an SFI march toward the Superintendent of Police's office; one report said they were used four times, while another said several times
- Government's position
- Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said water cannons were used after protesters confronted and attacked police personnel
Quotes
Ramesh Chennithala
Keralam Home Minister defending police action during the demonstration
“The police resorted to using water cannons only after protesters unnecessarily attacked and confronted police personnel. The use of water cannons is nothing new; they have been used over the past 10 years, and the same water is being used even now. There is no difference.”
deccanchronicle.com
“Which demand of the students has been denied? I simply fail to understand. Instead, there are attempts to attack the police and create trouble by entering the university premises.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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