R. Bindu, former Minister for Higher Education, has accused the United Democratic Front (UDF) government of conceding to the interests of the Sangh Parivar in the higher education sector.

She alleged that Higher Education Minister Roji M. John’s remark in the initial days of the UDF rule that the government had no intent to go on a collision course with the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of State universities, indicated that it would not oppose the Sangh Parivar agenda in universities. Ms. Bindu was addressing a meeting organised by Sanskrit University Samrakshana Samithi at Kalady against what the organisation termed as attempts to destabilise the institution.

She alleged that the government’s position that the full rendition of Vande Mataram was required as per the protocol of programmes attended by the Governor was a wrong interpretation of the existing guidelines. The UDF, which had unleashed a campaign alleging a nexus between the pervious Left Democratic Front government and the Bharatiya Janata Party in the controversy related to the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme, has reversed its earlier position after coming to power, she said.

Adarsh M. Saji, All India president of the Students Federation of India (SFI), alleged that the UDF government was acting against students protesting against the Sangh Parivar agenda in universities by registering criminal cases against them. He said that the students, who faced such action, had raised their voices demanding appointment of faculty members and improved facilities on campuses. S. Sathish, Ernakulam district secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), presided.

The meeting was organised a day after the varsity authorities suspended 16 students in connection with the protest led by the SFI to press its various demands while a meeting of the Syndicate was under way on August 13. The suspension will remain until an inquiry into the incidents that occurred on August 13 is completed by a Syndicate sub-committee.