THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The disturbing incident of stabbing of a student in the University College in Thiruvananthapuram bares the dangerous dimensions student politics has acquired in Kerala.
The proximate cause for the escalation of tension on the campus was the stabbing of a student, ironically a sympathiser of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student organisation of the Communist Party of India(Marxist).
Such is the atmosphere of terror created by the SFI that students cannot even sing a song. Akhil, the student who was stabbed, objected to the SFI leaders’ assault on the ‘singer’. Angered by his intervention, SFI college unit president, Shivaranjit stabbed Akhil with a knife handed over by the secretary of the unit, Nasim. The latter, incidentally, is an accused in a case in which he brutally beat up a policeman on the campus months ago. But no action was taken against him.
In another shocking incident which shows the extent of the reign of terror unleashed by arrogant SFI leaders on the campus, a girl student tried to commit suicide unable to cope with the intimidation by the SFI leaders. The incident should have prompted the college authorities to take action. But a pliant principal did not dare to act against the guilty student leaders.
The stabbing incident proved to be the last straw on the camel’s back. The anger of students snowballed into a spontaneous protest against the SFI and the autocratic conduct of its leaders.
The college authorities, who normally turn a blind eye to the various acts of omission and commission of the SFI, were forced to take notice of the angry protests and initiate damage control steps.
Top CPI(M) leaders, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Politburo member MA Baby have condemned the incident. The Chief Minister has promised strict action. The two culprits, Shivaranjit and Nasim have been arrested. The SFI unit on the campus has been replaced by an ad hoc committee which includes the victim, Akhil. A new principal has also been appointed.
But the student community and opposition leaders say such cosmetic changes won’t do. Things would revert to status quo ante sooner than later unless a total revamp of the set-up is undertaken.
Student body simply does not allow student organisations belonging to other parties to function in the college. And, unless and until democratisation of campus politics is initiated, things would not improve and peace won’t return to the affected colleges, including the University College, contend students and opposition party leaders.
The immediate need of the hour, therefore, is to ensure students can function without fear of intimidation by the SFI cadres. Student organisations belonging to other political parties should have the freedom to do that.
Ironically, even the CPI, the ally of the CPI(M) , in the Left Democratic Front(LDF), has come out openly against the autocratic functioning of the SFI. The CPI’s student organisation, the All India Student Federation (AISF) itself has been denied permission to function on the University College campus. CPI leaders, including CPI State secretary Kanam Rajendran have been strongly critical of the domination of the SFI.
This being the reality on the ground, it is of paramount importance that the SFI must indulge in introspection instead of trying to defend the indefensible. The CPI(M) leaders must initiate corrective action without further delay. The earlier they do it, the better. Otherwise, college campuses will continue to remain conflict centres instead of being centres of peaceful campus politics. (IPA Service)
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