THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even before conciliatory talks with Education Minister C Raveendranath began at noon on Wednesday, it was almost sure that the students’ stir at Law Academy would be settled.
Agriculture Minister V S Sunilkumar had already given hints to the students.
By 1.30 pm, the announcement came from the fast venue of Congress leader K Muralidharan MLA that the discussions were fruitful and a new principal would replace Lekshmi Nair. The students as well as the entire crowd thronging the fast venues erupted in jubilation. The slogan shouting students, including several girls, flashed victory signs and hugged each other.
By the time, the stir venue of BJP state secretary V V Rajesh who had already completed 7 days’ fasting was crowded with party workers and students.
Several students, including girls who were in the forefront of the stir, came to express their gratitude to the leader. At Muralidharan’s camp not only students but the crowd were jostling for space to greet him. Finally, the organisers had to ask all except the leaders to leave the pandal.
By 2 pm Rajesh took a sip of lime juice offered by state general secretary K Surendran and broke the fast.
Surendran, who had also been beaten up by police, termed the agitation a historic moment in students’ stir as it was for the first time that students’ tasted success without the support of the SFI and DYFI. KSU and AISF workers also took out victory demonstrations to Peroorkada junction.
Around 3 pm KPCC chief V M Sudheeran, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy came to witness Muralidharan ending the fast.
To spice up the jubilation, Mahila Morcha prepared pongala and bursted fire crackers, even as V V Rajesh was shifted to hospital in a police ambulance.
Despite the tragic incidents of BJP state vice-president P P Vava losing eye sight in police action and Abdul Jebbar, a native of Manacaud losing life, and several workers getting injured in police action, it was all jubilation around at the end.