Kottayam: A controversy has erupted in Kerala after a children’s study tour to the K.R. Narayanan National Institute of Visual Sciences and Arts in Kanjiramattom, Thekkumthala, was allegedly disrupted by SFI activists.
The children, belonging to Mannam Balasamajam affiliated with Pampadi Karayogam of the NSS ( Nair Service Society) were reportedly prevented from attending a film awareness session organised as part of the institute’s visiting programme.
According to office-bearers of Mannam Balasamajam, the study tour was part of their annual summer holiday activities for school students up to Class 10. They stated that the children had enrolled in advance and paid the required fees to participate in the programme aimed at introducing them to the world of cinema and visual arts.
The organisers alleged that a group claiming to be representatives of a “Progressive Students Organisation” entered the venue shortly before the session began and disrupted the programme. They further alleged that the children were insulted and forced to leave the campus, while even the Director of the institute was shouted at during the confrontation.
Reacting strongly to the incident, BJP leader N. Hari urged the Kerala State Commission for Child Rights to register a case against SFI leaders for allegedly violating the rights of children.
He alleged that the real target behind the disruption was the NSS and termed the incident “unprecedented” and “mysterious”.
Critics call that this incident is nothing short of hooliganism. Stringent action should be taken against the culprits who barged into the institute established in honour of late K.R. Narayanan, the former Rashtrapati.
They also compared the incident to the “class enemy” framework associated with Communist politics, alleging that ideological intolerance was being imposed even on children’s educational activities.
