KOCHI: The convocation ceremony at Maharaja’s College was abruptly halted on Friday after SFI workers disrupted the speech of Higher Education Minister Roji M John demanding the revocation of the suspension of 16 students of Kalady Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit.
The protesters, led by college vice-chairperson Nafeesath Musaliyar, raised slogans and displayed a banner against the minister before entering the stage where invited dignitaries were seated. Though the minister offered to hear their grievance after the ceremony, the protesters continued their agitation, prompting him to leave the venue.
The 16 students of Kalady university were sanctioned following the staging of a controversial street play as part of an agitation demanding basic amenities and adequate faculty. The students have been protesting for over 90 days.
The controversy centres on a symbolic funeral procession staged as part of a protest, that according to the SFI, was against malfunctioning lights on the campus. The university authorities reportedly viewed it as a representative protest against Vice-Chancellor Ciza Thomas.
The suspended students have also approached the High Court after allegedly being denied permission to pay examination fees and appear for the November examinations.
SFI Ernakulam district secretary Ashish maintained that the protest was peaceful. “There was no violence, and there were no plans to stop the convocation ceremony.
