SFI protests against Kerala’s higher education minister

Police line up as activists of the Students’ Federation of India continue their protest against Higher Education Minister Roja M. John as he leaves the Government Arts College in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday (October 7, 2026) after attending the ‘One College One Innovation’ programme. | Photo credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN

Students Federation of India (SFI) activists staged a protest against Kerala Higher Education Minister Roja M. John during his visit to Government Arts College in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday (October 7, 2026).

The minister came to the college to attend a program organized under the government’s “One College, One Innovation” initiative.

SFÚ activists raised slogans against Mr. John, protesting the government’s alleged failure to take action over ‘police excesses’ on students at the university’s Palayam hostel recently. They criticized the higher education department for not taking a strong stand against the police action. They demanded responsibility for the alleged attack on the students.

Police personnel resorted to violence to move the protesters aside to facilitate the Minister’s entry into the venue of the programme. SFÚ activists renewed their protest when the minister later left the campus after the event.

Reacting to the protest, Mr John said the government was not against democratic protests in universities. However, he added that he did not understand the reason for the demonstration.

While peaceful demonstrations were part of democratic practice, according to the minister, protests with violence, such as throwing bottles or stones, would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

Published – 7 Oct 2026 22:24 IST