On March 3, violent clash broke out between members of the ruling Trinamool Congress Party’s students wing and the members of the Student’s Federation of India (SFI) over students Union elections at the Jadhavpur University in Kolkata. In some of the footage available online students can be seen fighting with each other in a violent manner.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Student union elections have not been held at Jadavpur University for the past five years. Various student fronts, including the SFI, have been protesting for several days, demanding elections from the Mamata Banerjee-led state government but to no avail.
Earlier, on March 1, State Education Minister Bratya Basu attended an event at the university. Upon learning about his visit, students gathered to meet him and submitted a memorandum of demands. Some students attempted to discuss their concerns with the minister and even stopped his convoy, with a few climbing onto his vehicle.
Minister Basu stayed for a while to hear the students’ demands, but with the escalating crowd and chaos he left. Following this, TMC’s student wing alleged that the minister was misbehaved with. Acting on TMC’s complaint, the police registered seven FIRs and arrested one person from the protestors.
On the other hand, SFI students have claimed that on March 1, a fire broke out in the TMC student wing office ‘Shikshabandhu’ inside the university, and incidents of violence and vandalism occurred on the campus. However, SFI denied any involvement, alleging that since the government is run by TMC, the police are acting one-sidedly as part of a political conspiracy.
What’s the full controversy
Education Minister Basu visited the college on March 1 to attend the annual meeting of WEBCUTA (West Bengal College and University Teachers’ Association). When SFI and other student fronts learned about this, they reached the university campus with their demands. Later, he met with the students who handed over their demand letter.
It has been claimed that the minister attempted to leave in his car without listening to the students completely. As he tried to depart, hundreds of students surrounded his vehicle and ran behind it. Some even climbed onto the car’s bonnet. During this chaos, the car’s windshield broke, and a student was injured after being hit by the vehicle. The student sustained injuries to the head and leg.
TMC has alleged that the minister’s health deteriorated after leaving the university. He was taken to SSKM Hospital, where doctors later confirmed that his condition was stable.
Basu’s Reaction: “SFI’s true nature Is undemocratic and uncontrolled”
Commenting on the incident, Basu stated, “The protest clearly revealed that SFI’s true nature is undemocratic and uncontrolled. They raised slogans against the academic community.”
He further remarked, “Today, those who claim to be fighting against saffronisation, who boast about battling for democracy and against fascism, have joined hands with fascist forces to protest against me and the teaching community. This is because we did not bow to their pressure tactics and intimidation strategies.”
Holding elections on campus is a fundamental right of students, and it is fair to say that the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government is actively suppressing their voices. However, this controversy also sheds light on a compelling pattern backed by data. The SFI, an influential student organization with a strong leftist ideology, maintains an active presence across universities in Bharat. Historical records and documented incidents reveal a consistent trend—SFI frequently finds itself at the center of violent clashes, aggressive demonstrations, and disruptive protests nationwide.
Was this the first time SFI jumped into a protest and it turned violent? No! Here’s a list
Looking at the data from the past decade, it is evident that SFI has been involved in several protests across Bharat, some of which escalated into violent confrontations. Notable instances include:
1. Sree Kerala Varma College Election Dispute (November 2023): The student union elections at Sree Kerala Varma College in Kerala were marred by disputes between SFI and KSU candidates. Allegations of electoral malpractice led to legal interventions, protests, and heightened tensions on campus.
2. Asianet News Office Incident, Kochi (March 3, 2023): SFI activists forcibly entered the office of the media outlet Asianet News in Kochi, Kerala, protesting against the channel’s reportage. The intrusion led to widespread condemnation from various quarters, emphasising concerns over press freedom and the methods adopted by student organisations.
3. Vandalism of Rahul Gandhi’s Wayanad Office (June 24, 2022): SFI activists vandalised the office of Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad, Kerala. The incident drew widespread criticism, including from Kerala’s Chief Minister, and led to the detention of several SFI members
4. Protests Against the Death of Anish Khan (February 2022): Following the death of student leader Anish Khan, widespread protests erupted across West Bengal. SFI, along with other student organisations, led demonstrations demanding justice. The protests saw significant clashes with police, resulting in over 200 protesters injured and more than 350 detained. The intensity of the protests prompted the government to initiate a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the incident.
5. 2021 Nabanna Abhijan (February 11, 2021): SFI, along with the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and other leftist organisations, organised a march towards the West Bengal state secretariat, Nabanna, protesting against unemployment and other issues. The protest turned violent, leading to clashes with the police.
6. University College Incident, Thiruvananthapuram (July 12, 2019): A student was stabbed during an altercation involving SFI members at University College in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The incident highlighted internal conflicts and raised concerns about campus violence associated with student political organisations.
7. Attack on ABVP Workers in Thrissur, Kerala (December 2019): ABVP members organised a seminar supporting the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at Sree Kerala Varma College. SFI activists disrupted the event, leading to violent clashes. Videos showed ABVP members being physically assaulted by SFI activists.
8. Assault on ABVP Activists in Kannur, Kerala (August 2019): At Brennen College in Thalassery, two ABVP activists were attacked by SFI members. The assault was reportedly linked to the ABVP’s growing influence in the college and their efforts during student elections.
9. Clash at Himachal Pradesh University (March 2019): A violent altercation occurred between SFI and ABVP activists during a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) shakha meeting on the university campus. The confrontation resulted in injuries to 17 individuals from both groups. Both sides accused each other of initiating the violence, leading to police intervention and the filing of complaints by both organisations.
10. Jamia Millia Islamia (Delhi) – December 2019 (Anti-CAA Protests): SFI played an active role in violent anti-CAA protests, inciting riots around Jamia Millia Islamia University. The protests resulted in arson, stone-pelting, and injuries to law enforcement officers.
11. Aligarh Muslim University (Uttar Pradesh) – December 2019 (Anti-CAA Protests): Similar to Jamia, SFI-led groups clashed with the police, destroyed university property, and engaged in violent stone-pelting, opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act.
12. Maharaja’s College Incident, Kochi (July 2018): A clash between student groups at Maharaja’s College in Kochi, Kerala, led to the stabbing and death of an SFI leader. The altercation arose over disputes related to campus activities and poster displays, underscoring the potential for violence in student politics.
13. Vandalism at Vellappally Natesan College of Engineering (April 2017): SFI members vandalised the Vellappally Natesan College of Engineering in Kerala following a student’s suicide attempt, allegedly due to harassment by the college management. The protest escalated into violence, resulting in significant property damage.
14. Justice for Jishnu Pranoy Movement (January 2017): The suicide of Jishnu Pranoy, an 18-year-old engineering student in Kerala, led to violent protests by SFI activists. Allegations of harassment by college authorities sparked widespread outrage, with protesters vandalising college property and clashing with law enforcement.
15. Attack on Former Diplomat T.P. Sreenivasan (January 2016): During a Global Education Meet in Kerala, SFI activists attacked former diplomat T.P. Sreenivasan. The incident occurred amidst protests against the commercialisation of higher education, highlighting tensions between student organisations and policymakers.
16. Jawaharlal Nehru University Sedition Row (February 2016): A protest organised by former members of the Democratic Students’ Union (DSU) at JNU led to clashes between various student groups, including SFI and ABVP. The event, held despite the university administration’s withdrawal of permission, saw a small group of individuals, reportedly outsiders, shouting “anti-India” slogans. The situation escalated, resulting in the arrest of the then-President of the JNU Students’ Union, Kanhaiya Kumar, on charges of sedition.
17. Protests Over Textbook Distribution Delays in Kerala (2015): Under the leadership of M. Vijin, SFI activists protested against delays in distributing SCERT textbooks in Kerala’s government and aided schools. The protests often turned violent, leading to clashes with the police. Approximately 40 students were arrested during these agitations, and several leaders, including Vijin, sustained injuries.
18. FTII (Film and Television Institute of India) – 2015 Protests: SFI-aligned student activists hijacked the FTII campus for over 139 days, protesting against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the chairman. The protests led to massive disruptions in academics, financial losses, and damage to campus property.
19. Alappuzha Protest (July 6, 2015): In Kerala’s Alappuzha district, SFI activists protested against the delay in the distribution of school textbooks. The demonstration escalated when activists attempted to burn an effigy of the Home Minister, leading to clashes with the police. Stone-pelting ensued, and the police responded with tear gas, resulting in minor injuries among participants.
20. Presidency College (West Bengal) – March 2013: An SFI mob, protesting against university reforms, stormed the Vice Chancellor’s office, held officials hostage for hours, and damaged property.
The above-mentioned incidents are just 20 out of a much larger series of violent protests and disruptions that go unreported across Bharat. SFI, the student wing of the CPI(M), has a long history of aggression, often resorting to undemocratic methods to push its agenda. This is not confined to states like West Bengal, where the administration itself is accused of suppressing student freedoms. SFI’s disruptive activities span across the country, linking them to numerous protests, whether it be against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the now-repealed farm laws, or their consistent attempts to promote anti-Bharat narratives through the screening of controversial films and dramas. Now, as the political scenario shifts in West Bengal, they seem to be facing the same kind of aggression they have long practised themselves.
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