Vande Mataram row: Clash erupts at Central University of Kerala during SFI-led protest; police use water cannon
Violent clashes erupted at the Central University of Kerala between police and students protesting a seminar on Vande Mataram. The university had previously suspended several students for disrupting the event, leading to further campus unrest.
Why it matters
The incident reflects growing tensions on Indian university campuses regarding political discourse and the enforcement of disciplinary measures.
A clash broke out at the Central University of Kerala (CUK) on Friday during a march led by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) over a controversial Vande Mataram seminar and the subsequent suspension of students.
The police used water cannons to disperse protesters attempting to breach barricades, triggering violent confrontations between police personnel and students. The protesters remain determined to continue their agitation, while heavy police security has been deployed across the campus.
The latest unrest follows protests against a two-day seminar held at the university recently and the disciplinary action taken against students in its aftermath. The seminar, organised at the university library hall in collaboration with the Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad, drew opposition from student organisations, including the SFI, the Muslim Students Federation and the All India Students Federation.
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