"Opposition playing politics over University campus clash incident": Kerala excise minister MB Rajesh
Jul 04, 2024
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 4 : Reacting to the United Democratic Front's allegation that Kerala Students Union (KSU) workers were attacked by the Students' Federation of India (SFI), Kerala excise minister MB Rajesh said that the opposition is playing politics over the incident.
M B Rajesh said, "Our position is that campus should be free of violence. We do not promote or justify any act of violence on the part of any student organisation in the campuses. Kerala's universities and colleges are now focusing on upgrading the quality of education. There is an increase of 63 per cent in the number of foreign students who applied in Kerala University degree courses. There should not be any instance that deflects our attention. The opposition is playing politics over the incident."
He further alleged that the opposition UDF justifies all acts of violence, whereas this was not the case with the ruling LDF.
He further said, "We all know that the KSU, the Congress' student wing, attacked the vice-chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University earlier. The student wing of the Muslim League had killed a school teacher. The student wing of Congress had attacked an IAS officer. They are justifying all acts of violence."
Earlier, the Kerala Assembly witnessed uproarious scenes with a fierce verbal duel between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of the Opposition, VD Satheesan.
The topic of the acrimonious debate touched on the recent unrest in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram, between student union members of the Communist Party of India (CPI-M) and the Congress parties, the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the Kerala Students Union (KSU), respectively.
The Kerala Students Union has alleged that SFI members attacked KSU district leader San Jose inside the Kerala University campus in Karyavattom on Tuesday night.
The issue was raised as an adjournment motion notice moved by several Congress MLAs, including M Vincent. The Chief Minister rejected the motion of the opposition to adjourn the House.
Vijayan said that conflicts on campus are undesirable and should be condemned. He further said that action should be taken against those responsible.
