The Keralam police have suo motu registered an FIR against twenty-five identifiable Left-Jihadi students for disrupting the Vande Mataram Seminar at Kerala Central University in Kasargod.
The two-day seminar was organised under the joint auspices of Sahitya Akademi, Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad and Kerala Central University on October 6 and 7, 2026.
The police and the students foiled their attempt. Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar addressed the seminar on the second day, October 7.
The protesters aimed to disrupt the seminar and raised slogans targeting Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar during the valedictory ceremony on October 7.
The Governor called for comprehensive research into the forces and ideas behind opposition to Vande Mataram, urging society to identify those responsible and take action against divisive tendencies. He said the effort should extend beyond seminars to wider social intervention.
Earlier, the protesters had objected to J. Nandakumar, the national convener of Sangh-inspired Prajna Pravah, who was scheduled to deliver the keynote address. The protesters shouted that they would not allow the RSS leader to address the gathering.
On the first day, during the afternoon session, anti-Vande Mataram protesters barged into the auditorium while University Chief Proctor Dr. K. Sreekumar was addressing the seminar. They began raising questions, and although Dr. Sreekumar answered them all, the protesters continued shouting loudly and creating a disturbance. They displayed chappals, and some climbed onto the dais, raised slogans and attempted to disrupt the programme. One of them switched off the microphone. The police intervened and escorted the protesters out of the auditorium.
According to the reports, they were led by SFI district secretary, who is not a student of the campus, and several other men who were not students. Workers of Congress-led Kerala Students Union (KSU), CPI-led All India Students Union (AISF) and Indian Union Muslim League-led Muslim Students Federation (MSF) were with SFI workers.
Police have registered an FIR, on October 8, against twenty-five people for disrupting the seminar. They are charged with gathering and disrupting the Vande Mataram seminar.
Most of them reportedly belonged to Muslim Students Federation (MSF). Most of the girls were hijab-clad. The pro-seminar people allege that the charges do not fall under serious clauses. Accordingly, the punishment may end up in the payment of some penalty.
The case has been registered under the clauses of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) concerning illegal gathering, disobedience to the order of the government servant and causing riots.
The teachers’ organisation Akhil Bharatiya Rashtirya Shaikshik Mahasangh (ABRSMS) has condemned the attempt to disrupt the Vande Mataram seminar.
Reports from Kasargod suggest that both the Vice Chancellor and the Registrar have been reluctant to act against the Left-Jihadi designs in the university. They expect more proactive actions from the university authorities. They cite the example of Kerala University Vice Chancellor Dr. Mohan Kunnummel, who takes strict actions against the miscreants.
