Students’ Federation of India (SFI) activists staged a protest against Keralam Higher Education Minister Roji M. John during his visit to Government Arts College, Thiruvananthapuram, on Wednesday (October 7, 2026).
The Minister had arrived at the college to attend a programme organised as part of the government’s ‘One College, One Innovation’ initiative.
SFI activists raised slogans against Mr. John, protesting against the alleged failure by the government to take action over the ‘police excesses’ on students at the university hostel, Palayam, recently. They criticised the Higher Education department for not taking a strong position against the police action. They demanded accountability for the alleged assault on students.
Police personnel resorted to force to move the protesters aside in order to facilitate the Minister’s entry into the programme venue. The SFI activists resumed their protest when the Minister later exited the campus premises after the event.
Responding to the protest, Mr. John said the government was not opposed to democratic protests on campuses. He, however, added that he did not understand the reason for the demonstration.
According to the Minister, while peaceful demonstrations were part of democratic practice, protests involving violence, such as throwing bottles or stones, would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
