Thiruvananthapuram: The fee hike in self-financing colleges and alleged police atrocities against Kerala Students Union (KSU) activists who launched a strike against the hike raised the heat in the state assembly on Wednesday.
The opposition gave notice for a discussion on the police action against the KSU, but the Speaker disallowed it, leading to a walkout by the opposition.
Opposition legislators carried with them blood-stained clothes of KSU activists. They also displayed photos of police atrocities. Hibi Eden, MLA, moving notice for an adjournment motion, said the police beat up students without any provocation. A woman leader was assaulted by policemen, he said, and added that state leaders were subjected to brutal thrashing.
Leader of the opposition Ramesh Chennithala said chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had only contempt towards student agitations, and alleged that he was more worried of police uniforms getting blood-stained.
However, Pinarayi offered a defense for the police, saying that students resorted to violence and provoked the police into action. They came with sticks and stones and attacked the cops. No one was injured seriously. The police never hit anyone on the head. None of the injured students were denied medical care.
He said there was no need for Oommen Chandy to get involved in the agitation, and added that directions had been given to avoid situations where the former chief minister was forced to join agitations.
The speaker, meanwhile, admitted that the opposition complaint that response to their queries had been inadequate was factual. He said it reflected a lack of responsibility.