Thiruvananthapuram: The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) has announced a statewide strike on Thursday, July 10, 2025.

The protest is in response to the arrest and remand of 30 SFI members, including the state secretary, by the police.

According to the Left student organisation, the boycott is part of its ongoing agitation against the Governor’s alleged attempts to saffronise universities.
 

The controversy at Kerala University began after the Governor of Kerala and Chancellor of state universities Rajendra Arlekar attended an event during which a garlanded portrait of Bharat Mata carrying a saffron flag was displayed. The move sparked widespread protests from student outfits, including SFI, who alleged it was a bid to saffronise campuses. The issue escalated after the university registrar cancelled the event citing rule violations, only to be suspended by the Vice Chancellor and then later reinstated—prompting a fresh round of protests and legal challenges.