Kerala University Youth Festival judge Shaji (Left)
Shaji, judge for ‘Margam Kali’, an item in the suspended Kerala University Youth Festival, was found dead at his residence in Kannur on March 13. Shaji was allegedly blamed for accepting bribes for partisan judgement. Shaji and two other judges were taken into custody by Thiruvananthapuram police on March 9. They were taken from the festival venue and released later.
His suicide note reportedly expressed his innocence regarding allegations of bribery; the marks and points were awarded based on performance. The note reads, he had conveyed everything to his mother.
Shaji’s brother told the media that the bribery allegations had caused serious mental trauma to him. He felt that he was made a scapegoat. His brother added that several injuries of physical assault were seen in his body. The family is likely to file a case after getting the post-mortem reports.
ABVP State Secretary E U Eswara Prasad blamed SFI for Shaji’s death. He alleged that the SFI-led Kerala University Students Union was involved in bribery and violence, hence diluting the decency of the festival. ABVP further blamed the police’s negligence for Shaji’s death.
There are reports of another competition judge’s revelation that SFI men interrogated and assaulted Shaji during the festival.
Apparently, Thiruvananthapuram police had summoned Shaji and two other festival judges for interrogation on March 14. But, Shaji is not alive for it.
ABVP welcomed the Vice Chancellor’s order to suspend the festival on March 9. It was due to the violence that occurred in the venues. KSU, the student wing of Congress, blamed SFI for the entire violence.
Higher Education Minister and CPM leader R Bindu, as usual, came out to protect SFI from the blame. She said undesirable elements have infiltrated into the organisation!!! When SFI men were arrested in connection with the alleged murder of J S Sidharthan, a student of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Wayanad, last month, leaders of both SFI and CPM sang the same song.
Meanwhile, Varsity requested State Police Chief to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the unfortunate incidents which took place in connection with the festival. Varsity also decided not to extend the duration of the University Students Union.
No doubt, the festival and the related unfortunate incidents raise a one-million-dollar question – “Do we need a Youth Festival like this”?
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