Student Federation of India Returns to Campus Protests Amid PSC Controversy Silence
The Student Federation of India resumes protests in Kerala after government change, raising questions over its silence on PSC recruitment issues.
Thiruvananthapuram, November 3 (Daily Kiran) : The Student Federation of India (SFI), affiliated with the CPI(M), has re-emerged in campus protests following a change in government in Kerala. However, the organization’s silence regarding the ongoing Public Service Commission (PSC) recruitment controversy has sparked criticism.
Since the Congress government led by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan took office, protests involving SFI have been reported at various universities, including Calicut, Kaladi, and Kerala University. Some of these demonstrations have led to clashes with police. Notably, the SFI’s return to street politics is coupled with questions about its lack of response to the PSC issues.
During the tenure of the previous government under Pinarayi Vijayan, SFI protests were notably infrequent, with a significant exception being the movement against then-Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, who also served as the Chancellor of state universities. With the new government in place, the student organization has adopted a more aggressive stance. An incident at Maharaja College in Kochi last week was particularly alarming.
SFI activists confronted Higher Education Minister Rosie M. John at a convocation ceremony, indicating a shift in the political atmosphere on campuses. The Satheesan government and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala have taken a tough stance on such protests, leading to increased confrontations with police. Yet, the SFI’s silence on the PSC matter has left many puzzled.
Investigations into alleged irregularities in PSC examinations and appointments have already resulted in the arrest of a senior commission officer and a former employee. A Special Investigation Team has interrogated PSC Chairman M.R. Baiju and three other members. Notices have also been issued to the remaining 12 members of the 16-member commission, all appointed during the previous Vijayan administration.
This issue directly impacts the credibility of the recruitment system that thousands of young people rely on for government jobs. It is a matter that significantly affects students and job seekers, a demographic that SFI claims to represent. This makes the organization’s silence all the more difficult to overlook.
While the SFI may have returned to the streets following the change in government, its reluctance to address issues affecting the future of countless job seekers raises serious questions. When the interests of students and job applicants are at stake, where does the student organization stand?
