Tuesday, September 26, 2023
  • Login
The South First
  • Home
  • States
    • Andhra Pradesh
    • Karnataka
    • Kerala
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Telangana
  • Politics
    • Behind the News
    • National
  • Entertainment
    • Kannada
    • Malayalam
    • Tamil
    • Telugu
    • Reviews
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Videos
    • Lifestyle
  • More
    • Opinion
    • In The News
    • Dakshin Dialogues
    • Cartoons
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • States
    • Andhra Pradesh
    • Karnataka
    • Kerala
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Telangana
  • Politics
    • Behind the News
    • National
  • Entertainment
    • Kannada
    • Malayalam
    • Tamil
    • Telugu
    • Reviews
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Videos
    • Lifestyle
  • More
    • Opinion
    • In The News
    • Dakshin Dialogues
    • Cartoons
No Result
View All Result
The South First
No Result
View All Result

Home » Kerala » NITC students begin hunger strike, seek apology from administration for attempts to ‘saffronise’ the institute

NITC students begin hunger strike, seek apology from administration for attempts to ‘saffronise’ the institute

Despite the administration threatening students with “strict disciplinary action”, numerous students have joined the protest.

Sreerag PSbySreerag PS
Published:03/03/2023 12:31 pm
A A
NIT Calicut strike

Students hold hunger strike against the recent decisions by NITC administration that according to students and staff of the campus are in favour the Hindutva politics.

A section of students of the National Institute of Calicut (NITC) has begun a hunger strike demanding an apology from the college authorities for organising an ABVP event in the guise of a club activity on the campus.

The students have been protesting against the alleged attempt to saffronise the campus ever since the institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the RSS-backed Mahatma Gandhi College of Mass Communication (MAGCOM) in Kozhikode, Kerala.

The MoU aimed at the collaboration of the two institutes to offer courses on content writing, technical writing, and international media studies.

The students and staff of NITC said the MoU was the latest among the recent decisions by institute director Prasad Krishna, favouring Hindutva outfits and their ideologies.

At 6 pm on Thursday, 2 March, the students held a  protest at the administrative block of the institute against the saffronisation of their campus.

Although the representatives of the Students Action Council (SAC) met with the dean of students’ welfare for a dialogue, a consensus evaded the meeting, prompting some students to call for a hunger strike until the institute issues an official apology.

Demand for apology

The students have decided to continue the hunger strike until the administration issues an apology.

“The dean said that the order to welcome the students came from the MoE (Union Ministry of Education) and they couldn’t go against the order,” an Instagram post on Students Commune said.

“He admitted that they purposefully hid the name of ABVP because they did not want to be associated with the party,” it said.

The post further lamented that the students were feeling “highly misguided” for attending a politically-inclined event.

The statement also demanded to see the order sent by the Ministry of Education regarding hosting the ABVP event. It also demanded ABVP Kerala take down the post published on its official Instagram handle.

Watch: Only anti-social elements will politicise events on campus: NITC Director

Administration threatens action

The institute administration reacted to student protests, threatening to initiate action against them.

The students received a mail from the institute’s Registrar Shamsundara MS, a copy of which is with South First. The internal communication threatened action against those students who are planning to hold protests on campus.

“Dear Students, It has been reported that some of the students are planning for a march or protest or protest congregation inside the campus today and in the coming days. It may be noted that protest or march or protest congregations or related activities inside the campus are illegal, an act of indiscipline and against the general conduct rules of the Institute,” the mail read.

It further said that strict disciplinary action would be initiated against those who indulge in “illegal activity” such as gathering together and protesting inside the campus premises.

Students recall P Rajan

The latest development also witnessed the students recalling P Rajan, who was allegedly tortured to death in police custody during the Emergency. His 47th death anniversary, incidentally, fell on 1 March.

“In 1976, a young man stood up for the rights of his countrymen. He voiced his protest through his art. Enraged by the young man’s confidence, people in power killed him,” the Students Commune said in its Instagram post.

“Forty-three years later, on the campus where he enacted his street play and sang songs, the rights of the students are being questioned. We need the administration to speak up. It’s Rajan’s campus, it’s our campus. If not now, then when shall we be united?…” the post asked.

Rajan, a student of Regional Engineering College, Kozhikode, now the National Institute of Technology, Calicut, was tortured by the Kerala police during the Emergency.

The alleged murder of Rajan by the Kerala Police after branding him a Naxalite despite insufficient evidence had stirred a political controversy in Kerala and remains a significant event in the state’s political history.

The murder was committed when K Karunakaran was the home minister in the C Achutha Menon-led government.

In the elections that followed in 1977, Karunakaran became the chief minister of the state but had to resign following adverse remarks by the Kerala High Court. AK Antony replaced him as the youngest chief minister of Kerala.

The students have placed an image of Rajan at the protest venue.

Recommended For You

AIADMK BJP split
In The News

SOUTH FIRST VIEW: With AIADMK as ‘rival’, BJP will try to create perception of a turf war in TN

September 25, 2023
Dr Saif was arrested and suspended earlier for allegedly abetting the suicide of a junior student, Dr Preethi. (Commons)
In The News

Contempt of court: Telangana High Court orders KMC principal to allow suspended Dr Saif to rejoin

September 26, 2023
Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai. (Supplied)
In The News

End of AIADMK alliance: BJP faces challenging times, says state chief Annamalai; calls for ‘political change’

September 26, 2023
Nara Lokesh
Andhra Pradesh

TDP chief Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh is A14 in Amaravati Inner Ring Road case: CID informs ACB Court

September 26, 2023
BRS MLC K Kavitha.
News

Delhi liquor scam: Kavitha gets a breather till 20 November; don’t call her, SC tells ED

September 26, 2023
Telangana MLC K Kavitha.
In The News

BRS MLC Kavitha slams Telangana Governor for rejecting state Cabinet recommendation on MLCs

September 26, 2023

Top Stories

Nara Lokesh

TDP chief Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh is A14 in Amaravati Inner Ring Road case: CID informs ACB Court

September 26, 2023
BRS MLC K Kavitha.

Delhi liquor scam: Kavitha gets a breather till 20 November; don’t call her, SC tells ED

September 26, 2023
Bengaluru City Police beefs up security across the city as various farmers' associations and Kannada outfits have called a one-day bandh. (Supplied)

Bengaluru bandh over Cauvery dispute sees mixed response; public transport, services largely unaffected

September 26, 2023

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receive daily updates direct to your inbox.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Like and Follow

Follow @TheSouthfirst

Latest

KG George

Veteran Malayalam filmmaker KG George laid to rest with state honours

September 26, 2023
Dr Saif was arrested and suspended earlier for allegedly abetting the suicide of a junior student, Dr Preethi. (Commons)

Contempt of court: Telangana High Court orders KMC principal to allow suspended Dr Saif to rejoin

September 26, 2023
Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai. (Supplied)

End of AIADMK alliance: BJP faces challenging times, says state chief Annamalai; calls for ‘political change’

September 26, 2023
The South First

CATEGORIES

  • News
  • Opinion & Analysis
  • Entertainment & Culture
  • Featured
  • Health & Wellness
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Karnataka
  • Kerala
  • Tamil Nadu
  • Telangana

PAGES

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

© 2023 The South First

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • States
    • Andhra Pradesh
    • Karnataka
    • Kerala
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Telangana
  • Politics
    • Behind the News
    • National
  • Entertainment & Culture
    • Kannada
    • Malayalam
    • Tamil
    • Telugu
    • Reviews
  • Opinion & Analysis
  • Health & Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • In The News
  • Cartoons
  • Dakshin Dialogues
  • Videos
    • Lifestyle

© 2023 The South First

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used.