The student’s body accuses Rajendra V Arlekar of acting as an RSS-BJP agent to communalise the education system
NEW DELHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM — The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) has launched a fierce campaign against Kerala Governor Rajendra V Arlekar, accusing him of “undemocratic and unethical interference” in the administration of the state’s universities. Massive student protests erupted simultaneously across four major campuses — Kerala University, Mahatma Gandhi University, Calicut University, and Kannur University — demanding an end to what SFI calls the governor’s attempt to “destroy the higher education system” in the state.
The student body has strongly condemned Governor Arlekar’s recent interventions in the functioning of the state’s universities, calling it an “unethical overreach” and a “deliberate attempt to destabilise higher education in Kerala.”
In a press statement issued on Wednesday by its Central Executive Committee, SFI accused the governor — who also serves as chancellor of state universities — of bypassing democratic university structures and appointing temporary vice chancellors in violation of statutory procedures. “These temporary VCs are not committed to the betterment of higher education,” the statement said, alleging that they were being used to “terminate democratically appointed university staff and install the governor’s favourites.”
Massive protests erupted across the university campuses, with hundreds of students gathering simultaneously at each campus. More than 25 students were arrested during the protests, including SFI Kerala State Secretary PS Sanjeev and CEC member Adarsh SK.
SFI alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) were orchestrating these interventions via the governor’s office as part of a broader strategy to undermine non-BJP-ruled states. “The Union government is misusing the institution of the governor to weaken federalism and inject a communal agenda into education,” the statement said.
SFI alleged that the governor, acting as chancellor of the universities, has systematically undermined the autonomy of these institutions by refusing to appoint permanent vice chancellors in accordance with established norms. Instead, he has installed temporary officials who, according to SFI, are bypassing elected university bodies like the Syndicates and taking arbitrary decisions, including the dismissal of democratically appointed staff and the appointment of individuals allegedly close to the governor.
“This is part of a broader political strategy by the BJP-RSS combine to weaponise the role of governors in opposition-ruled states,” the statement read. “Kerala, which has one of the best public education systems in the country, is being targeted to dismantle its secular and democratic foundations in education.”
SFI leaders Adarsh M Saji (President) and Srijan Bhattacharyya (General Secretary) accused the BJP-RSS of trying to “communalise and centralise” the education system by sidelining federal principles and democratic governance in universities. “The governor is being used as a tool to inject communal ideology into campuses,” the statement charged.
SFI warned that unless the governor withdraws from what it calls a “blatant overreach,” the protests will only grow stronger in the days to come. “The heat of student resistance will be felt across the state,” it added.
The organisation also reiterated its commitment to safeguard Kerala’s secular and inclusive education model. “We will resist every attempt by the BJP-RSS to dismantle it,” SFI said, while extending “revolutionary greetings” to all students who participated in the demonstrations.
The protest marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between Kerala’s Left government and the governor, with education emerging as the latest flashpoint in the larger ideological battle over the role of constitutional authorities in India’s federal structure.
The student organisation has vowed to intensify the agitation until the governor ceases his current role in university affairs.
