Kochi, Nov 2 Two SFI student union leaders of the Maharajas College were suspended on Monday for allegedly disrupting an event at the institution in which Keralam Higher Education Minister Roji M John was speaking.
The action was taken against the college students union’s chairperson and vice-chairperson — both of whom are leaders of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the CPI(M)’s student wing.
Responding to the suspension of the two student union leaders of Maharajas College, SFI state secretary P S Sanjeev told reporters here that such actions will not silence the questions they are raising.
“Questions will be raised across the state against the suspension of the students. How many more will be suspended?” he asked.
Meanwhile, John told reporters that he was aware of what happened at Kalady university and for that he does not need “a class” from the SFI.
He said that necessary enquiries in connection with the issue are going on.
The minister said he was not against protests and the SFI was welcome to agitate outside his office or home.
“We all have protested. I am not against protests,” he said.
He also made it clear that the government does not interfere in the decisions taken by the university, like the suspension of the students.
“Now that the matter is before the court, let us wait for its verdict,” he said.
The activists allegedly disrupted the event on October 30 attended by the minister to question the suspension of 16 SFI students of the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, also known as Kalady University, for protesting against its Vice Chancellor Ciza Thomas.
The stand-off between the SFI and Thomas has escalated as she and the university have moved the Kerala High Court against a single judge order allowing the 16 suspended students to register for their respective examinations.
The Kerala High Court on Monday reserved its verdict on the plea by the university and the VC.
It will pronounce the judgement on Tuesday.
Later in the day, the Syndicate of the Kalady university, following a meeting, decided that suspension of 12 out of the 16 students can be revoked if they apologised in writing to the VC.
The Syndicate members told reporters that the suspension period of the remaining four students would be increased by another two months.
The action has been taken as the four entered the university despite being on suspension, the Syndicate members said.
In response to the Syndicate decision, the SFI decided to hold a hunger strike outside the university till the suspension of all 16 students is revoked without furnishing of any apology.
The Kalady university students are under suspension for over two months for staging a mock cremation of the VC and allegedly assaulting her.
(PTI News)
