Roji M John leaves dais midway through speech amid SFI protest at Maharaja’s College

Kerala Higher Education Minister Roji M John cut short his speech and left the dais during a convocation ceremony at Maharaja’s College in Ernakulam on Friday after SFI activists staged a protest over the suspension of their leaders at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in Kalady.

The protest began when John and Ernakulam MLA T J Vinod arrived at the hall for the annual convocation ceremony. SFI activists raised placards against the minister, demanding an explanation for the disciplinary action taken against their leaders, college officials said.

Addressing the gathering, John said students had the right to protest peacefully and democratically and that he welcomed such demonstrations. Recalling his own days in student politics, he said he had led several protests during his college years.

However, the activists soon gathered near the dais and continued to demand an explanation over the suspension of SFI leaders at the Sanskrit university.

When security personnel moved to remove the protesters, John said he was ready to explain the government's position after the convocation ceremony. As the agitation continued, he said the protest at Kalady had turned violent and that the government would not support such demonstrations.

The minister then left the venue after police cleared the way. The protesters followed him and continued to question him. The SFI activists continued their agitation until the convocation ceremony concluded.