Clash erupts during ABVP-Yuva Morcha protest against Minister Sivankutty

A protest taken out by activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Yuva Morcha against General Education Minister V. Sivankutty over the ‘Bharat Mata’ issue led to a clash between the police and the activists at Tali in Kozhikode on Saturday (June 21). The involvement of activists from the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) escalated the situation. The police brought the situation under control by arresting the ABVP and Yuva Morcha activists.

Minister V. Sivankutty was in Tali to inaugurate a seminar in connection with the National Conference of the SFI at the MAM Jubilee Hall at Kandamkulam, as well as a departmental event at the Zamorin’s Higher Secondary School nearby. ABVP and Yuva Morcha activists attempted to block his convoy near the Tali Mahadeva Temple by raising black flags. The police intervened to control the protest and clear the way for the minister. Meanwhile, SFI and DYFI activists allegedly attacked the ABVP and Yuva Morcha members even while they were in police custody.

Meanwhile, P. Reghunath, president of the BJP (North Zone), Kozhikode, alleged that the police attacked the ABVP and Yuva Morcha activists without provocation as they were leaving the BJP District Committee office, located just a few metres from the Jubilee Hall. He claimed the activists were heading towards Kidson Corner, where the party had already planned a protest on the ‘Bharat Mata’ issue. He further alleged that the police had created an opportunity for the SFI-DYFI activists to attack the ABVP-Yuva Morcha activists. He demanded that the police take action against the SFI activists who were reportedly involved in the attack.

Later, activists of the Fraternity Movement took out a protest against the Minister, demanding more Plus Two seats, which led to a minor scuffle between them and SFI activists.

Earlier, speaking to the media at the Government Guest House, Mr. Sivankutty alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had instigated ABVP and Yuva Morcha activists to obstruct him at every turn. He also claimed that activists had destroyed the National Flag displayed on his car during a protest in Thiruvananthapuram. Mr. Sivankutty’s remarks about the use of a portrait of ‘Bharat Mata’ at the Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram during an official programme had earlier triggered the controversy.