Opposition Leader in the Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan on Sunday claimed that the so-called "rift" between the state government and the Governor was nothing but an "adjustment" between the CPI(M) and the BJP to deflect attention from more important issues, including the crisis in the higher education sector.
Coming out in support of the reported settlement between the state government and Vice Chancellor of Kerala University on suspending varsity registrar, he explained to journalists here that it was the opposition that had initially called for "a truce to shield the future of students." The ruling CPI(M)'s student wing, SFI, had called off its protest against Vice Chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal after he met Higher Education Minister R Bindu on Friday.
The opposition had pointed out that small issues — such as renting out the Senate Hall for a function — should not disrupt the functioning of universities, Congress leader Satheesan told the media.
Also read: Kerala HC first to give nod to AI for work, not judgements
Students are exiting colleges and universities in the state, and the sector is in "deep crisis," he said. He claimed that SFI students were being asked to stage protests against the Governor and the VC to shift focus away from these serious issues.
During the previous Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's tenure, he too would bring up some issues against the government when it is in crisis, for deflecting focus from live matters, Satheesan charged.
It is said by him that the state's health sector is on ventilator support and the higher education sector is in disarray.
He further noted that the CPI(M)-dominated state government, which now implicates the VC of "being pro-RSS", itself appointed him as the Vice Chancellor of the Health University.
The controversy at Kerala University started with the hiring of the Senate Hall to a religious body for a function in which Governor Rajendra Arlekar was present on June 25, wherein a photo of 'Bharat Mata' was placed on stage.
The varsity registrar, who had earlier issued permission for the function, later withdrew it. Nevertheless, the Governor did attend the event in defiance of the directive.
The registrar, KS Anil Kumar, was immediately suspended by the VC for refusing permission for a function attended by the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the university.
Follow us
