Sanskrit varsity ‘mock funeral’ row: Pinarayi Vijayan alleges conspiracy by ex-Governor Arlekar, V-C against SFI activists

Keralam Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan

Keralam’s Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan has alleged a conspiracy by former Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Vice-Chancellor (V-C) of Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit (SSUS) Ciza Thomas in connection with the controversy over the complaint that activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI) had carried out a mock funeral of the V-C.

Addressing the relay fast staged by the suspended SFI activists at the SSUS main campus in Kalady near here on Friday, Mr. Vijayan alleged that the V-C had not raised any compliant of a mock funeral initially. However, such a false complaint was lodged after a few days. Mr. Arlekar, “who has always implemented the wishes of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh”, played a key role in coming up with “a lie” that the protesting students held her mock funeral, he said.

He also accused Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan and Higher Education Minister Roji M. John of not trying to address the indefinite fast organised by the suspended students. Though they often claim about their involvement in campus politics, they have taken a stance against the students, he alleged.

The SFI staged an ‘Occupy Sanskrit University’ protest on Friday as its State leadership reiterated the demand that the suspension of its 16 activists must be revoked unconditionally. P. S. Sanjeev, State Secretary of SFI, said the students would not tender any apology as directed by the varsity Syndicate.

On Wednesday, the mothers of the protesting students and members of the All India Democratic Women’s Association expressed solidarity for the relay fast at a meeting held at the protest site. They urged the university authorities to withdraw the disciplinary action against the students without further delay and permit them to write their semester exams.