THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Nearly two weeks after the student agitation at the Kerala Law Academy Law College, the CPM and the government led by the party have come under huge pressure to remove principal Lakshmi Nair.
CPM which managed to buy time till now is wary about the upsurge of students which is gaining momentum by the day. The CPM district and state leadership made an attempt to pull back SFI from demanding the resignation of Ms Nair.
District secretary Anavoor Nagappan tried to convince students’ leaders who were summoned to the district committee office, about the impracticability of the demand for principal’s removal. Even a section of state CPM leadership had conveyed similar message to the student leaders.
They were told that the party supported all demands barring the resignation of the principal. But the SFI stuck to the demand in the wake of the massive student support to the stir. The student leaders believe that dropping resignation demand would not only be suicidal but also amount to backstabbing the students.
After meeting Education minister C. Raveendranath, SFI state president Jaick C. Thomas categorically stated that there was no question of backing out from the resignation demand.
The education minister found time only on Wednesday, thirteen days after the agitation began, to hold talks with agitating students. Sources said the minister stayed away from negotiating with students owing to pressure from the party.
Students allege that the principal was holding her ground despite groundswell of protest because of the backing she is receiving from top CPM leaders including her uncle Koliyakode Krishnan Nair and two persons holding powerful positions in the chief minister’s office.
Many say the problems of CPM and the LDF government may not end even if the principal were to resign. Veteran party V.S. Achuthanandan has asked the government to reclaim the college land. Similar demands are coming up from different organisations as well. Apart from VS stand, the 48 hour protest by BJP leader V. Muraleedharan has also landed the CPM in a tight spot.
CPM holds mock public trial of Modi
CPM on Wednesday conducted mock public trial of Prime Minister Narendra Modi across the state to protest against Centre’s demonetisation decision that has heaped miseries on the people.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the agitation at Nayanar Park where he criticised the Centre for plunging the nation and its people into crisis situation. He asked the Centre to immediately roll back all restrictions on the withdrawal of money from banks.
A 20 minute skit was presented by SFI activists as part of the public trial. It depicted the problems being faced by the common man because of demonetisation decision and how it was aimed at helping corporate. Thousands of people the public trial was part of CPM's nation wide campaign against demonetisation.
