Zero tolerance for campus violence, says Roji M. John as SFI activists hold ‘banner protest’ in Kalady

Keralam Minister for Higher Education Roji M. John.

Higher Education Minister Roji M. John said here on Thursday (Nov 5, 2026) that the United Democratic Front (UDF) government will ensure a zero tolerance policy on campus violence.

“Government has zero tolerance for campus agitations. But zero tolerance for campus violence. Violence of any kind will not be allowed at any cost,” he told the media after inaugurating the college union at Adi Sankara Training College in Kalady near here.

Students Federation of India (SFI) activists staged a ‘banner protest’ saying they would not apologize when the minister entered the campus. They were reacting to the decision of the Sree Sankaracharya University Syndicate to allow a conditional recall of the suspension of 12 out of 16 SFI activists in connection with the August 13, 2026 campus incidents.

The Minister stated that the suspended SFÚ activists have not yet submitted a request that they would like to write the exams. “They (SFÚ activists) did not follow the procedures prescribed by the university and turned directly to the court. We want them to write the exams and continue their studies. But this cannot become the unleashing of violence in the universities,” he added.

Published – 05 Nov 2026 21:43 IST