University campus clash sparks heated debate in Kerala Assembly

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 4 (ANI): Kerala Assembly witnessed uproarious scenes with a fierce verbal duel between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan.

The topic of the acrimonious debate touched on the recent unrest in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram between student union members of the Communist Party of India (CPI-M) and the Congress parties – the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Kerala Students Union (KSU) respectively.

The Kerala Students Union has alleged that SFI members attacked KSU district leader San Jose inside the Kerala University campus in Karyavattom on Tuesday night.

The issue was raised as an adjournment motion notice moved by several Congress MLAs including M Vincent. The Chief Minister rejected the motion of the opposition to adjourn the House.

Vijayan said that conflicts on campus are undesirable and should be condemned. He further said those action should be taken agains those responsible.

The Kerala chief minister also defended the SFI describing it as a longstanding organization with a proud history, unlike the KSU, which he said, had declined in influence.

“This is not a movement that grew in blackrooms. KSU used to dominate every educational institution. How did you end up in your current state?” the Chief Minister asked.

The Chief Minister also referred to the bomb attack on the AKG centre and the defacement of a Mahatma Gandhi portrait at the Congress office in Wayanad. He alleged that 35 people were killed simply for being SFI members. He challenged the KSU to provide a similar history and said that the Congress was employing wrong means to spread its propaganda against the Left party.

With the explanation of Chief Minister, Speaker A N Shamseer rejected the motion of the opposition to adjourn the house

Opposition leader VD Satheesan accused the Chief Minister of providing protection to campus violence through his statements.

“Your repeated assertions show you have no intention to correct this. The Chief Minister of Kerala is issuing licenses to beat people to death. After the Siddharth incident, Kerala thought such events would not recur. Before that pain subsided, another young man was subjected to mob justice. Who gave permission for such a brutal act? Instead of taking him to a hospital, they took him to a police station. Criminals are creating dungeons on campuses for their hunts, with no one to control them. The Chief Minister’s statement today is unworthy of his position. You are the Chief Minister of Kerala, not a king,” Satheesan said.

Vincent said that every college has “dungeons for SFI” and that their operations are based not on ideology but on coercion. He alleged that San Jose was forced to write a statement saying he had no complaint, which was recorded. Vincent also said that police officers stood by while the assault took place.

Due to the uproar caused by the debate between the opposition and the ruling party, the Assembly was adjourned for the day.

On Wednesday, Vice Chancellor of Kerala University, Mohan Kunnummal, instructed the Registrar to conduct an investigation and submit a report on the alleged assault of KSU Thiruvananthapuram District General Secretary Sam Jose.

The incident allegedly took place in the hostel room at the Kariavattom campus and the Vice Chancellor demanded that the report be submitted urgently within 48 hours.

According to the complaint, SFI activists assaulted KSU member Sam Jose in his hostel room on Tuesday night. Following the incident, KSU activists on the intervening night of July 2-3 staged a protest at the Sreekaryam police station, demanding action against those responsible for the assault.

In response, police said they 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.