Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], February 10 (ANI): Kerala University’s campus in Thiruvananthapuram witnessed chaotic scenes on Tuesday as members of the Students Federation of India staged protests over the vice chancellor’s decision to allegedly deny funds for conducting the University Arts Festival.
The students marched to the university headquarters as part of a day-and-night protest launched on Monday, demanding resolution of multiple student concerns, including pending allowances. Protesters are seeking that Vice Chancellor Mohanan Kunnummel address their demands, including the immediate allocation of a Rs 50 lakh budget for the current university union to conduct a youth festival.
Police and protesters clashed amid heavy police deployment, with demonstrators entering the university building that houses the offices of the vice chancellor and the registrar. Despite the use of water cannons, protesters reportedly removed police barricades and entered the university premises.
Workers of the SFI, the student wing of the ruling CPI(M), raised slogans against the authorities after entering the campus. They also highlighted the issue of pending travel allowance for sports students, which has reportedly been delayed for several months.
In June last year, the campus had witnessed protests over the display of a portrait of “Bharat Mata” holding a saffron flag at a university event attended by Governor Rajendra Arlekar. SFI and other student unions, including the Kerala Students Union and the Democratic Youth Federation of India, had opposed the display, alleging it was an attempt to push a “Sangh Parivar” agenda on campus.
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