In a major political escalation, senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has accused the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) of enabling drug distribution in Kerala’s educational institutions. He further alleged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is complicit in shielding the organization and demanded an immediate ban on the SFI.
These claims surfaced following the recent seizure of two kilograms of ganja from the men’s hostel of a Government Polytechnic College in Kalamassery, Kochi, which led to the arrest of two students. Chennithala argued that this incident exposes a deeper nexus between the SFI and illicit drug operations on campuses.
In response, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], which backs the SFI, dismissed the accusations as baseless and politically motivated. They claimed that the Congress and other opposition parties are using the incident to tarnish the SFI’s reputation and malign the ruling party.
The controversy has reignited discussions about campus violence and misconduct linked to the SFI, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also joining the chorus for a crackdown on the student body, labeling it as an “anti-social” organization.
The Kerala government has assured a thorough investigation into the allegations, promising strict action against anyone found guilty. However, the opposition continues to push for stringent measures, including a possible ban on the SFI, to safeguard educational institutions from criminal activities.
