People's Democracy

SFI Condemns Police Atrocities on Kerala Students

The following is the press statement issued by the Students’ Federation of India on June 30, 2011

THE Students’ Federation of India organised a protest demonstration at Kerala House against the continuing police atrocities on SFI protests in Kerala. The demonstration was a part of the all-India protest call given by the SFI central executive committee. Activists of the SFI marched to Kerala House shouting slogans against the UDF government. The demonstration was addressed by Ritabrata Banerjee, SFI all India general secretary and V Sivadasan, SFI all India joint secretary. SFI Delhi state committee secretary Robert and president Roshan also addressed the demonstration.

The speakers lambasted the UDF government for unleashing the assault of commercialisation of education. The UDF government after coming to power has announced that all seats in private self financing medical colleges would be transferred to the management quota and done away with the 50 per cent reservation for merit quota. This was a policy announced by the UDF government itself in 2001. The SFI has been protesting against this move to promote commercialisation of higher education throughout Kerala.

All across the state, the police acting on orders of the UDF government has brutally cracked down on the SFI protesters. Lathicharge, tear gas and grenades have been used on peaceful protestors.  Girl students also have not been spared. Hundreds of students have been hospitalised with injuries from the violence unleashed by the police. Even today, SFI protests have been lathicharged in Kannur and Ernakulum district. The Kannur district secretary of SFI V S Sanoj has been injured and hospitalised with injuries. 

The SFI CEC strongly condemns the continuing police brutalities on SFI protests in Kerala. The UDF government should accept the demand to reserve 50 per cent seats in merit quota and stop unleashing repression on protesting students. We express our solidarity with our fellow comrades who are fighting a valiant struggle against the commercialisation of education in Kerala.