Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 3 (PTI) CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday alleged that the UDF government was deliberately attempting to suppress protests by SFI activists and likened the action to the Centre’s handling of student protests in New Delhi.
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) was protesting against the rendition of the full version of ‘Vande Mataram’ during National Sports Day celebrations held at the Kerala university attended by Keralam Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Higher Education Minister Roji M John on Tuesday.
Police first used water cannons to disperse the protesters and later resorted to lathicharge, according to the protesters.
Two women activists suffered injuries to their faces and heads and were later taken to the hospital, SFI leaders alleged.
SFI carried out a protest march against lathicharge on Wednesday, which also turned violent.
Vijayan visited the injured students on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters after meeting them, Vijayan alleged that male police officers had launched a “brutal attack” on female students.
He alleged that police officers were aware of the consequences of hitting people on the head or the back of the skull.
“Hitting like that caused a female student to collapse unconscious,” he said.
Vijayan alleged that the incidents showed an attempt to suppress protests in Keralam through a “police state”.
“What is suspicious here is that certain officers who are notorious for such actions are present in the police force. Such individuals have been specially selected and assigned the responsibility of handling these protests in a capital city like Thiruvananthapuram,” he said.
He also alleged that harsh provisions of the law were being invoked against protesters, including charges of attempt to murder.
“Serious charges, including attempt to murder, are being pressed against people who participated in a protest,” he said.
Vijayan warned that such measures would not suppress protests and could instead lead to stronger protests across Keralam.
“If this is how protests are going to be dealt with, do not think that protests can be crushed through such means. A strong reaction will naturally arise across Keralam,” he said.
“It is best that this does not continue. However, we cannot normally expect the Keralam government to adopt such a stance. In recent days, we saw how the Central Government handled student protesters. If that involved severe aggression, the UDF government in Keralam is moving along a similar path,” he alleged.
He said the government should correct its approach and end the alleged repression, warning that protests would continue otherwise.
“No ruling system has ever been able to quiet or terminate protests through such repressive measures, and the UDF government would do well to remember that,” he said.
Asked whether the CPI(M)’s statements were aimed at inciting students and provoking protests, Vijayan questioned the need for students to be incited.
“Inciting students? What is the reason for students to rise up? Is it because the CPI(M) incited them?” he asked.
Vijayan alleged that Vande Mataram was being sung inside the university in a manner similar to its rendition at RSS platforms, departing from the convention followed by the Constituent Assembly.
“Our Constituent Assembly itself had decided back then that only two stanzas of Vande Mataram should be sung. However, the RSS has always recited Vande Mataram in its entirety. The Congress had previously accepted only the first two stanzas,” he said.
He alleged that the UDF government had adopted the position of fully endorsing Vande Mataram from the swearing-in ceremony and continued with the same approach.
“When Vande Mataram was sung inside the university in the same manner as on RSS platforms, student protests naturally followed. If students don’t protest against such things, are they even students? Isn’t that natural? That is what needs to be rectified,” Vijayan said.
Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan recently defended the rendition of the full version of Vande Mataram, saying the state government is bound to follow the Central protocol at events attended by the President, Vice-President or Prime Minister.
Vande Mataram was not sung at official state government events on Independence Day. PTI TBA TBA ROH
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