Studnets’ organisations in Coimbatore come together to fight ‘anti-student attitude’ on campuses

COIMBATORE: In the backdrop of a Government Arts College Student being suspended reportedly for organising a meeting to observe Bhagat Singh’s birth anniversary on the campus without permission from the college authorities, students’ organisations from the city have formed a federation to address such oppressive measures against students.

The federation, named Coimbatore All Students Organisation Federation (CASOF), was announced on Saturday in the city by representatives of a bunch of students' organisations. The members, who spoke to reporters, said as on Saturday, five students’ organisations were part of the federation, and they had called other students’ organisation too to join. The organisations which were part of the federation are: Revolutionary Student’s Front, Campus Front of India, All India Students Federation, Student Uprising Movement for Social welfare and the students’ wing of Manidhaneya Jananayaga Katchi.

Speaking of the federation, S Malathi, the first year MA History student of Government Arts College who was suspended, said it was not formed just because of her suspension, but to address issues faced by students on campuses. “There have been incidents of repression against students who have been speaking up for social issues. Campus democracy has been taken away. We have formed this federation to address such anti-student measures,” said Malathi. She said Saturday’s meeting was a consultation meeting for the federation.

As the federation’s demands, the representatives asked for clean water, toilets and cafeteria on the Government Arts College campus and hostel. They also sought that the college revoke Malathi’s suspension and that the college provide them basic democratic rights of talking politics and conducting meeting on the college campus. They also said the birth and death anniversary of Bhagat Singh should be announced as government festivals.

The representatives said the college had sent Malathi’s suspension letter to the Race Course police station, which undermined the credibility of the college’s claims that she was suspended as a disciplinary measure. They said this move of the college was with an intention to affect the student’s future.

The college administration has called Malathi for an inquiry on Monday. Malathi said she would attend the inquiry and would present her justifications. She said conducting a meeting on the campus was students’ democratic right.