Nearly a week after activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) clashed against each other, tension prevailed at the MG College yet again on Monday when the former took out a demonstration and erected flag poles outside the premises.
Around 100 protesters of the SFI marched to the college and erected around 10 flag poles in protest against the removal of their flags by ABVP activists some days ago.
According to Peroorkada Circle Inspector Stuart Keeler, all precautionary measures were adopted to prevent a flare-up of the tense situation. Activists of the ABVP were advised against holding any demonstrations at the same time to prevent another possible clash between the rival groups. The region has been placed under alert in view of the demonstration being viewed as a provocative act.
Meanwhile, college authorities fear that the prevailing unrest could have an impact on the admission process that is under way. Principal M.R. Sudarsanakumar said the recent incidents had created fear among the students, guardians and those who planned to seek admission to the institution. He appealed to the students’ organisations to desist from activities that threaten to disrupt the smooth conduct of academic activities.
Dr. Sudarsanakumar also feared that prevailing tension could adversely affect the efforts that were being made for the third cycle of accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). According to him, the Kerala High Court had imposed a ban on campus politics in the college in 2013. Not a single day of class had been affected ever since and there had also been a marked progress in terms of academic achievements.
Since 2013, the students of the college bagged around 20 ranks at the University-level in various subjects. Around 100 scholars who undertook their research at the various departments also obtained doctoral degrees.
Moreover, the University Grants Commission had recognised the college as a ‘College with Potential for Excellence (CPE)’ in 2010. The institution made it to the CPE list during the last year as the first among 40 colleges in the country and one among only three in the State.
