The SFI used flags, balloons, and t-shirts — all black — outside Calicut University in what was one of the biggest protests by students.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan continued to condemn the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) — the student branch of Kerala’s ruling CPI(M) — on Monday, 18 December, even as hundreds of its activists organised a large-scale protest against him outside the Calicut University seminar hall.
It was one of the biggest student turnouts ever recorded at the university in North Kerala. Khan was at the university to attend a seminar.
In addition to wearing black shirts, the SFI demonstrators hoisted black flags in opposition to the Governor, who is also the university’s chancellor.
They carried enormous banners that read “Governor Go Back”, and also released black balloons into the sky.
The police had a difficult time controlling the student gathering and ejecting them after making an arrest.
A few protestors tried to covertly enter the campus, but security guards apprehended them and turned them over to the police.
There were a few more tense moments on the university campus. Some SFI students tried to access the guest house where the Governor was staying by jumping over barricades.
Meanwhile, over 2,500 police personnel had been roped in to provide security at the seminar attended by the Governor.
Meanwhile, the Governor arrived at the seminar hall from the university guest house. En route, he assured reporters that “Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s threatening group of criminal students” would not intimidate him.
Khan reaffirmed that Vijayan was the one behind the SFI activists’ violent agitation because he intended to undermine Khan’s constitutional authority. He also called SFI activists crooks in several instances.
Outside the hall before the seminar, he said: “Those who are protesting against me are goons. They are not real SFI workers. The chief minister is deputing them.”
He gave the opening remarks for a seminar sponsored by the university’s Sanathana Dharma chair in association with Bharatheeya Vichara Kendram, a pro-Sangh Parivar outfit. “Sri Narayana Guru: The Prophet of the Renaissance” was the theme of the seminar.
There was no political rhetoric in his address. Instead, he stuck to the topic at hand.
Meanwhile, vice-chancellor MK Jayaraj was condemned by the Governor and other speakers for not attending the gathering only to avoid conflict with the CPI(M) and SFI, according to reports.
During their speeches on the occasion, Dr Mahesh C, an assistant professor at the Sri Guruvayurappan College in Kozhikode, and Swami Chidananda Puri of Advaithashramam criticised the vice-chancellor harshly for caving in to pressure from the SFI.
Khan said he would seek an explanation from the vice-chancellor for not attending the seminar. Jayaraj was billed to preside over the event.
Khan surprised everyone earlier in the day by refusing to walk across Kozhikode’s bustling SM Boulevard. He drove from the campus to SM Street after announcing that he would no longer accept police protection.
In the images aired on TV news outlets, Khan was seen mingling with adults and kids in school uniforms on the crowded street after getting out of his car.
Later, when he strolled down the street on foot, numerous store owners could be seen beckoning him inside and offering him treats. During his stroll, Khan also picked up and cuddled a baby, besides posing for pictures with other people.
After the walk, he remarked, “I’m overwhelmed by the people’s reception.”
During the walk, the district authority dispatched a large force for him even though he denied police security.
The Governor’s choice to walk down SM Street completely surprised the cops. He was observed with police officers around him in a protective circle.
The Governor said he had already sent a letter to DGP Sheikh Darvesh Saheb requesting the removal of the police security while speaking to the media at Calicut University.
“The finest police force is in Kerala. The police are not to blame. However, they are unable to fulfil their responsibilities. Only where I got out of the automobile was where they started to deal with the demonstrators. And what about those two other places? Due to the chief minister’s directives, they chose to scale back the prosecution. I refuse to hold the police responsible. They can’t do anything about it,” he told reporters.
“I’ve informed the cops that I don’t require any protection. Now nobody scares me. I have written a letter to DGP about this,” he added.
The Governor also made a reference to the appointment of carpenters at Calicut University and claimed that CPI(M) workers were given the positions. He claimed that it was his responsibility as the chancellor of the universities to protect their autonomy.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters in Kottarakkara in Kollam that the Governor was violating law and order.
He said he would inform the Central government how the Governor was taking the law into his hands.
“The Governor is using bad and harsh words against students. He is not mentally stable. He intentionally creates provocations,” said Vijayan.
Meanwhile, LDF convenor EP Jayarajan said he wanted the Centre to immediately recall the Governor. “This is not the way a Governor must behave,” he said.
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