SFI Intensifies Protest on Kerala University Campus

Thiruvananthapuram: Activists of the CPM-led Students’ Federation of India (SFI) attacked Dr. He stepped up his protests against CN Vijayakumari’s alleged casteist remarks towards a PhD scholar.

Before the demonstrators were removed by the police to clear the road, the Vice-Chancellor Dr. demanded action against Vijayakumari. Mohanan blocked Kunnumal’s vehicle. Protests continued on campus, with large numbers of students coming together and calling for strict action against the Dean.

Earlier, in the University Senate meeting, CPM members had demanded the expulsion of Vijayakumari for alleged casteist remarks. This led to heated debates between CPM and BJP members.

SFI accused the vice-chancellor of protecting the professor and alleged that Vijayakumari was linked to the Sangh Parivar.

It may be recalled that on November 9, the Sreekaryam police had registered a case against Vijayakumari, who is also the Dean of Studies at the Kariavattom campus of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, based on a complaint by research assistant Vipin Vijayan, who accused him of making casteist statements.

The FIR alleged that after Vijayakumari’s public defense on October 15, the student refused to sign his doctoral thesis. He allegedly made casteist remarks in front of other teachers and students when Vipin approached him again and asked for his signature to complete the process.

Vipin also alleged that the HoD had made similar caste-based comments since 2015, when he joined the MPhil program at the Kariavattom campus of the University of Kerala under his supervision.

Vijaykumari denied the allegations

Vijayakumari denied making any casteist comments. He claimed that the academician refused to sign the thesis because he did not have sufficient knowledge of Sanskrit and because his work involved various topics. It was also alleged that Vipin plagiarized parts of the research paper from other studies.

Meanwhile, the police have booked Vijayakumari under various sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Cruelty) Act.