Massive Protests By Students At Central University Kasaragod Against Participation Of RSS Ideologue In Vande Mataram Seminar

Student protests have escalated at the Central University of Kerala in Kasaragod during the seminar on 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram held on campus on Tuesda.

Several student organizations demonstrated against the inclusion of speakers with alleged Sangh Parivar ties. Activists from SFI, KSU, MSF, and AISF tried to force their way into the seminar hall. Pranja Pravah national convenor and RSS ideologue J Nandakumar arrived despite threats from student groups to block his entry.

There were several instances of pushing and shoving between student activists and the police during the protest. The two day seminar is being organised by the Sahitya Akademi in collaboration with the Central University and the Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad (ABSP) , the RSS-linked literary organisation.

Nandakumar, national convenor of Prajna Pravah, the intellectual wing of the RSS, was the chief speaker at the inaugural session.

The members of Left organisatons SFI, AISF, Congress led NSUI, Muslim League's Muslim Students Federation (MSF), Ambedkar Student Assocation (ASA) and the Fraternity Movement, the student outfit of Welfare Party of India came together to organise the protest aginst what it call the university’s deliberate attempt to saffronise the campus and implement the agenda of the RSS.

Students blocked all entrances to the library hall where the seminar was set to take place. Despite the protest, Nandakumar and several others managed to enter the hall. However, the seminar went ahead with a complete rendition of Vande Mataram.

Allegations arose that authorities had stopped student union representatives and registered students from entering. Four students were injured during police action, and a group of SFI leaders who arrived from outside after hearing about the protest were taken away by the police.