It is not a proper political act to bar the Governor himself, who is responsible for reporting to the Centre about the law and order situation of a state, from the event he is participating in. Governor Arif Mohammad Khan had to spend almost an hour in conditions similar to detention in the Kerala University Senate Hall with locked doors and windows as SFI members breached the security cordon and protested near the venue. Finally, the governor was taken out of the university in a cordon by CRPF and police. The Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the University, arrived at the Senate Hall to inaugurate the International Sanskrit Seminar. Despite a heavy police presence in front of the university, about 40 members of the SFI jumped over the wall and tried to enter the senate hall at around 11:30 in the morning. The police closed 13 windows and seven doors when it was confirmed that they would enter the hall.
These incidents terrified about 1500 people including students and teachers present in the hall. The protesters were unable to kick the door open as the police pushed the door with all their might. This is not a minor incident. It only takes a moment for such events to get out of hand and cause irreparable losses. Administrators here are intolerant of even small protests. In such a situation, the attitude that there can be any kind of protest against the governor is not acceptable. It is not wrong for those of the correct political standards to protest peacefully. However, the party leadership should intervene and stop the protests which tend towards violence. The Governor should also be prepared to look into the SFI's allegation that the VC has not even agreed to administer the oath to the office-bearers of the Kerala University Union four months after the election.
Had adequate measures been taken at the time of minor incidents, the SFI College Unit of the University College would not have had to be dissolved now. The SFI district committee unit was dissolved on the instructions of the party district committee because of the incident of beating up a differently-abled SFI activist from the same college. Muhammad Anas, a differently-abled person, filed a complaint that he was beaten up at the college union office under the leadership of the SFI unit president and secretary. Even before this, many people had complained about many acts that were not suitable for political activity on the part of the unit, but the leadership did not care about it.
The situation was that no matter what they do, no one can question them, so the unit there can function as they like. Muhammad Fayaz Khan, a native of Lakshadweep, was beaten up by members of the SFI after entering the university hostel for allegedly supporting the differently-abled Muhammad Anas. This further angered the CPM leadership. Activists must realize that political activity in the name of SFI is not a license to engage in violence. If not, leadership should be able to convince them. If both of these things do not happen, things will slide to the point of challenging the leadership. The party leadership should also prepare for a rethink on the issue of SFI members blocking the governor.