Central University of Kerala suspends five students over protests at Vande Mataram seminar

The Central University of Kerala (CUK) on Thursday suspended five students following protests that disrupted a two-day national seminar on Vande Mataram that began on the campus on Tuesday. The Bekal police registered a suo motu case against 25 students who allegedly gathered in a group and disrupted proceedings at the seminar.

The police action comes amid continued protests by student organisations against the seminar. Tension on the campus continued on Wednesday when students protested against K. Sreekumar, the programme’s chief organiser and the university’s proctor, while he was addressing the gathering.

The protesting students raised ‘Go Back’ slogans and switched off the microphone while Mr. Sreekumar was speaking on Wednesday, disrupting the seminar held at the university library hall. The protesters demanded that the programme be called off.

The protest also led to a verbal confrontation between two groups of students, with activists of the ABVP on one side and members of the SFI and the MSF on the other.

Meanwhile, SFI State secretary P. S. Sanjeev alleged that the Vice-Chancellor of the university was closely aligned with the RSS and accused the university administration of conducting the seminar after removing students from the venue.

Mr. Sanjeev told the media that students across the country, including SFI members, sing the opening lines of Vande Mataram. However, he alleged that promoting portions beyond the opening lines amounted to “advancing a divisive agenda.”

Mr. Sanjeev alleged that the Sangh Parivar was seeking to organise similar programmes in universities across the country. He also alleged that the emphasis on Vande Mataram rather than Jana Gana Mana was part of “a communal strategy.”

Mr. Sanjeev further alleged that the Kerala Police had attacked SFI activists when they protested against the seminar.