Kerala Law Academy closes down indefinitely, KPCC says state-wide protest on Tuesday

MLA K Muraleedharan, who has been fasting for the last four days, said the state government would be responsible if violence were to erupt on Monday.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite the management's decision on Sunday to close down the Law Academy Law College indefinitely, there was no closure of issues that left the can of worms wide open in public.

The standoff between the Communist Party (Marxist) CPM and the Communist Pary of India (CPI) was laid bare. Instead of finding an amicable solution, the CPM tried to brazen out the issue and Education Minister C Raveendranath's walkout from the meeting with Kerala Students' Union (KSU) came under heavy criticism. The management had earlier decided to restart classes from Monday, and sources say the decision was taken to prevent violence.

MLA K Muraleedharan, who has been fasting for the last four days, said the state government would be responsible if violence were to erupt on Monday.

Stepping up its stir, KSU has called for an education strike in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday, protesting against the Left Government's anti-student stance on the Law Academy controversy. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief V M Sudheeran said a state-wide protest would be organised on Tuesday.

"The government has scant regard for the students' stir and the indefinite fast by Muraleedharan. It is protecting the college management's interests. The management is able to act with impunity because of the government's backing," Sudheeran said.

Senior Congress leader A K Antony demanded Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's direct intervention to end the controversy. Antony added that Pinarayi should meet the students to settle the issue.

"The Chief Minister himself should take the initiative. He should ensure the just demands of the students are met. It was an immature move by Raveendranath to walkout of the meeting with students' unions," A K Antony said.