The Central University of Kerala has suspended five students over the Vande Mataram seminar protests

Student organizations clashed with police during a protest against a seminar on Vande Mataram held at the Central University of Kerala on Tuesday (October 6, 2026) | Photo credit: special arrangement

The Central University of Kerala (CUK) on Thursday suspended five students following protests that disrupted a two-day national seminar on Vande Mataram that began on Tuesday at the campus. The Bekal police have registered a suo motu case against 25 students who allegedly gathered in a group and disrupted the seminar proceedings.

The police action comes amid ongoing protests by student organizations against the seminary. Tension on the campus continued on Wednesday as students protested against K. Sreekumar, chief organizer of the program and proctor of the university, when he addressed the rally.

The protesting students raised slogans of “Come back” and switched off the microphone while Mr. Sreekumar was speaking on Wednesday, disrupting the seminar held in the university library auditorium. Protesters demanded the cancellation of the program.

The protest also led to a verbal confrontation between two groups of students, with ABVP activists on one side and SFÚ and MSF members on the other.

Meanwhile, SFI state secretary PS Sanjeev alleged that the university’s vice-chancellor was closely associated with the RSS and accused the university administration of running the seminar after they chased the students out of the venue.

Mr. Sanjeev told the media that students across the country, including SFI members, are singing the opening lines of Vande Mataram. However, he argued that promoting sections beyond the opening lines was tantamount to “pushing a divisive agenda”.

Mr. Sanjeev claimed that the Sangh Parivar was trying to organize similar programs in universities across the country. He also claimed that the emphasis on Vande Mataram rather than Jan Gana Man was part of a “communal strategy”.

Mr. Sanjeev further alleged that the Kerala Police attacked SFI activists when they were protesting against the seminar.

Published – 8 Oct 2026 12:54 IST