Kannur University denies permission for Aishe Ghosh's event; SFI defies ban, holds ‘She Fest’

Kannur (Kerala): Even as Kannur University denied permission for 'She Fest', featuring SFI All-India joint secretary Aishe Ghosh, the Campus Union conducted the event as scheduled. The SFI-led college union hosted 'She Fest' in the very seminar hall on the Palayad campus where permission had been refused. Aishe Ghosh attended the event as the chief guest and addressed the gathering.

The Campus Director had issued a notice to SFI union officials on Sunday, stating that the seminar hall would not be allotted for 'She Fest' as the event lacked the Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr K K Saju's approval. However, union representatives informed the university authorities that they would go ahead with the event at all costs.

SFI Kannur district secretary Joel Thomas told Mathrubhumi.com that permission was denied solely because Aishe Ghosh, who had led student protests at Jantar Mantar, was participating. He also alleged that they had faced similar treatment in the past from the “Sangh Parivar-leaning” Vice-Chancellor.

'She Fest' was scheduled as part of a week-long campus carnival. Prior permission for the events had been secured from university authorities, but notification of the refusal for 'She Fest' arrived only the previous day, along with instructions to remove promotional materials from the seminar hall.

Thomas claimed that deciding which events take place on campus rests with the union, not the VC, stating that the VC has no role in the matter. He added that the SFI will launch further protests, including demonstrations leading to the university headquarters.