Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 30 The CPI(M) on Friday strongly condemned the alleged attack on SFI cadres in connection with the students’ union election at the Calicut University campus and accused the IUML and the police of “failing” to prevent the violence.
It also warned of a strong response if the League leadership failed to rein in those accused of the attack.
Addressing a press conference here, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan alleged that activists of the Muslim Students Federation (MSF), the student outfit of the IUML, along with Kerala Students’ Union (KSU) workers, attacked SFI leaders and students with the intention of killing them following the SFI’s victory in the university students’ union election.
The KSU is the student wing of the Congress.
He alleged that the attack took place in the presence of police personnel, who remained mute spectators.
Govindan claimed that the violence was an expression of resentment over the SFI winning all major seats in the students’ union election despite attempts by UDF-backed student organisations to defeat it.
He said the attackers barged into classrooms and libraries and assaulted students, including women. They used a gas cutter to remove the SFI flagpole, wielded weapons such as axes and damaged several vehicles, he alleged.
He alleged that MSF activists continued the attack at a nearby hospital, targeting SFI state joint secretary N Adhil, Malappuram district president M Sujin and other cadres who had gone there to visit injured party workers.
The attackers even entered the casualty department and assaulted them in front of other patients, he said.
Describing the MSF activists as a “criminal gang”, Govindan demanded stringent action against those involved.
He urged the IUML leadership, including senior leader P K Kunhalikutty, to condemn the violence and take responsibility for reining in its workers.
“The IUML should take a proper stand against this anti-democratic attack. If the League leadership fails to control this criminal gang, the SFI will resist them,” he warned.
He accused the police and the state government of shielding criminals, alleging that the prevailing situation allowed the children of the wealthy and senior officials to act with impunity while ordinary people were subjected to violence.
Govindan said protests would be held against the police and the government over their alleged failure to act against those involved.
He showed video footage of the alleged attack during the press conference.
His remarks came a day after the police registered a case against 15 MSF activists for allegedly attacking SFI leaders at a hospital in Thenhipalam in Malappuram district in the early hours of Thursday.
The case was registered at the Thenhipalam police station based on a complaint lodged by Adhil, the SFI Malappuram district secretary, police said.
Clashes had broken out between SFI activists and workers of the KSU and MSF on Wednesday evening, during which the Thenhipalam Station House Officer was also injured, police had said.
Two cases were registered in connection with the violence on the university campus during the election, officials had said.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala criticised Govindan over his remarks on the clashes, saying people expected greater maturity from someone holding such a senior position in a political party.
Clashes during college union elections were not new and could occur anywhere, he said, adding that legal action would be taken irrespective of who was involved.
“Is it appropriate for a party secretary like M V Govindan to make such remarks? People should decide whether it is right to use such language over a clash between students during a college union election,” Chennithala said while speaking to reporters in Haripad.
(PTI News)
