Students’ ‘send-off’ to Principal draws flak

The ‘send-off party’ given by students, allegedly members of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), to the retiring Principal of the Nehru Arts & Science College, Kanhangad, P.V. Pushpaja, on the campus on Wednesday has invited protest from rival unions.

The footage circulated on social media showed students bursting crackers and pasting posters “conveying condolence to a teacher who had died in the hearts of students.” The Kerala Students’ Union and the BJP’s district unit condemned the “cultural hollowness of the pro-CPI(M) students’ wing which had been at loggerheads with the Principal in the recent past.” Dr. Pushpaja had taken a firm stance against a planned unrest by the SFI members in the past, BJP district president K. Sreekanth said. The police in Kanhangad said they had not received any complaint to this effect. No case had been registered.

Chennithala’s stance

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala has condemned the incident. He said the Principal had taken action against a few drunk students and others who had abused girl students of the college. She had also filed a complaint with the Hosdurg police against SFI activists for forcefully opening the college auditorium during college hours for holding the organisation’s area conference. The police, however, did not take any action.