Kottayam (Kerala) | Kerala Higher Education Minister Roji M John on Tuesday rejected allegations by the CPI(M) and its student wing SFI that the UDF government was facilitating a BJP-friendly "power-sharing" arrangement in universities through appointments made by Governor and Chancellor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.
Responding to reporters' questions on the allegations, John said the government remained firmly opposed to "saffronisation".
"This government does not agree, under any circumstances, with saffronisation. That is what we have said from the very beginning; we have said it earlier as well. That itself is our position, and there is no change in it. The government will resist saffronisation in whatever form it comes," he said.
The minister also turned the criticism back on the previous CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, accusing it of allowing similar interventions in universities.
"Those who are raising criticism now would do well to think about what happened during their own period. This practice of Chancellors or Governors intervening in the day-to-day functioning of universities in Kerala began during the period of the LDF government," he said.
John alleged that individuals linked to the BJP, RSS and a pro-Sangh Parivar newspaper had been appointed to university bodies, including the Mahatma Gandhi University here, during the previous government's tenure.
"So many members--including the writers for pro-Sangh Parivar daily--were appointed to university Senates and Syndicates. Likewise, people associated with the BJP or RSS were appointed to the Senates and Syndicates, and many people were also appointed as Vice-Chancellors during the tenure of the previous government. All of us are aware of that," he said.
Questioning the protests being organised now by Left-affiliated groups, the minister said they had remained silent when similar developments took place earlier.
"What were the people who are agitating now doing at that time?" he asked.
John further alleged that a confrontation between the Governor and the previous government had been staged.
"Later, at some point, the Governor and then the Left government conducted a mock fight. During that mock fight, the then Chief Minister (Pinarayi Vijayan) held a meeting with the Governor. On the very day the agitations came to an end," he said.
He said the public was aware of the events that had taken place under the previous government.
"The agitations that were stopped then are now being allowed to continue. So, what exactly are the interests behind this? What are the interests of those conducting this agitation, or what was happening during the previous regime--all of this is before the public," John said.
"Nobody has forgotten anything. One should not think that everyone has a short memory. These are matters that the people of Kerala know very well," he said.
Reiterating the government's position, John said: "As far as this government is concerned, it does not agree with saffronisation under any circumstances. I have said that earlier. I maintain the same position"
