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Kerala Assembly adjourned as LoP Satheesan calls SFI ‘criminal gang’ following the attack on Congress MLAs

Satheesan further addressing Chief Minister Vijayan stated, "This criminal gang will prove costly for you."

Published Jul 04, 2024 | 1:22 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 04, 2024 | 7:57 PM

Kerala LoP VD Satheesan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. (Facebook)

The Kerala Assembly was adjourned for the day on Thursday, 4 July, following a war of words between the Treasury and Opposition benches.

The conflict broke out after the Opposition demanded an adjournment motion regarding the issue of an alleged attack against two Indian National Congress MLAs— M Vincent and Chandy Oommen by SFI activists in front of the Sreekaryam Police Station in Thiruvananthapuram in the wee hours of Wednesday, 3 July

SFI—the Student Federation of India is the student wing aligned with the left parties, while KSU— Kerala Students Union is the student wing of Indian National Congress.

The MLAs had arrived at the police station to inquire about the incident in which a KSU activist, Sanjose, got beaten up by SFI activists at the University of Kerala’s Karyavattom campus.

Responding to it, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that the police have registered a case against both parties and the investigation is on.

He also claimed that as SFI is a widely spread organization, they might have committed something that can’t be justified.

The chief minister further added, “During student life, such problems might happen. The solution is to correct them and guide them on the right path.”

At the same time, Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan alleged that Vijayan is giving political patronage to criminals in SFI, and his statement supporting them will result in a new wave of violence on the campuses.

Satheesan further addressing Chief Minister Vijayan stated, “This criminal gang will prove costly for you.”

‘Government protecting SFI criminals’

In a statement on Wednesday, Satheesan also accused the police of protecting the SFI activists who attacked the MLAs.

He said the police made their stand clear when they lodged a case against the MLAs and KSU activists for the injury caused to a policeman in the clash between the two student groups.

Satheesan, in his statement, also accused the state government of protecting the criminals in the SFI and alleged that the “decay” in the CPI(M) has affected its student and youth outfits also.

He also said Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, who is also in charge of the Home Department, should realise that the SFI is carrying out brutal acts in the campuses and not rescue operations.

The altercation

On Wednesday afternoon, the KSU took out a march to the state secretariat protesting the police action against the MLAs and alleging inaction of the police against the SFI.

The KSU activists shouted slogans against the state government and the police in front of the barricades placed outside the secretariat.

The police then used water cannons several times to disperse them, but the protestors did not move away and blocked traffic on one side of the road in front of the secretariat.

Later, the protestors left the area and marched towards Palayam in Thiruvananthapuram.

Also Read: Opposition stages walkout in Kerala Assembly after permission denied to discuss rise in communicable diseases

MLAs attacked

Vincent on Wednesday claimed that activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI) attacked him outside the police station when he arrived there to be part of a protest by the Kerala Students Union (KSU), a student organisation of the Congress, against the alleged beating up of one of their leaders inside the University of Kerala campus on Tuesday, 2 July.

The KSU members, along with Oommen, were also demanding the lodging of a case against the SFI activists who allegedly beat up the KSU leader.

The situation escalated after SFI activists arrived there claiming that the KSU was making false allegations.

The SFI also alleged that the KSU brought “goondas” from outside and attacked the activists of the Left student outfit inside the university campus during preparations for welcoming new students to the varsity on 3 July.

Later, the situation outside the police station escalated into heated words and even blows being exchanged between both sides, with Vincent being allegedly attacked by SFI activists in front of the police.

Speaking to reporters after the incident, Vincent said, “I was attacked as soon as I stepped out of the vehicle. You all saw that. This shows the arrogance of SFI.”

Cases filed

The police lodged an FIR against some SFI activists in connection with the violence outside the station.

It lodged a separate case against the Congress MLAs and KSU activists in connection with the injury caused to a policeman during the violence outside the Sreekaryam station.

Besides that, another FIR was lodged against some activists of the SFI on a KSU member’s complaint that he was beaten up by them near the police station.

A fourth FIR was also registered by the police against more than 20 unknown persons for the alleged assault of the KSU leader inside the university campus on 2 July.