Prakash Raj Slams UDF Govt Over Suspension of Sanskrit University Students
Raj visited the university, where 16 suspended students are staging a hunger strike for the past six days after being denied permission to appear for examinations
Kochi: Actor Prakash Raj on Saturday criticised the UDF government and Higher Education Minister Roji M John over the suspension of students at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in Kalady near here and threatened to join their hunger strike if they were not allowed to write examinations.
Raj visited the university, where 16 suspended students are staging a hunger strike for the past six days after being denied permission to appear for examinations.
The students were suspended following an SFI-led protest during a syndicate meeting on August 13 over a lack of sufficient facilities on campus.
They were accused of staging a "mock cremation" of the vice-chancellor Ciza Thomas, manhandling her and attempting to damage university property.
The Kerala High Court's single bench had directed the university to allow the students to appear for the examinations. However, a division bench later stayed the order.
The students subsequently approached the Supreme Court, which directed the High Court single bench to decide the matter.
Addressing the gathering, Raj accused the university and the state government of adopting a "dictatorial" approach towards students who raise questions and protest against issues affecting them.
"What is this anarchy, dictatorial behaviour of the university or the education minister of this state? How long will everybody become like Modi and the Union Government to stop youngsters from protesting and asking questions," he asked.
He said the students had staged a play to express their concerns over necessities at the university and questioned whether performing a play had become a crime.
"Now, doing a play is a crime in this country? You suspend them, and now you are asking for an apology," he said.