SFI protests against Kerala governor's alleged move to turn universities into Sangh Parivar centres

Thiruvananthapuram: As a statewide education strike, the Students' Federation of India (SFI) on Wednesday staged a protest march outside Raj Bhavan in the city against governor Arif Mohammed Khan over Kannur University Vice-Chancellor appointment issue.

The protest was called against the governor over his alleged move to turn universities into Sangh Parivar centres. The main allegation put forward by the SFI is that several functionaries of the RSS are being appointed in various state universities. The SFI workers alleged that the nominees appointed by the governor for the post of Kannur University VC were RSS allied people. They demanded governor's resignation.

The protest turned violent at several locations. More than 300 police personnel, along with rapid response team, have been deployed to bring down the escalating situation. The police personnel used water cannons to disperse the protesters. Visuals have emerged showing the students trying to barge into the Raj Bhavan. 

Reacting over Supreme Court's verdict on the role of the governor in the selection of vice-chancellors, Arif Mohammed Khan said, “CM officials pressurized me. CM must ensure transparency. Now, SC has made the position clear.” 

This comes at a time when the Supreme Court annulled the reappointment of Gopinath Ravindran as Kannur University VC whose tenure had come to an end in 2021. Governor Arif Mohammed Khan had on Friday appointed Professor S Bijoy Nandan as the VC of Kannur University, following the apex court annulment of the reappointment of Gopinath Ravindran to the key position. After the judgement by the top court, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Thursday accused the state Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of pressuring him to reappoint Gopinath Ravindran as the vice-chancellor.