AISF lodge complaint against Kerala political observer over remarks on Delhi student protest
The pro-CPI student outfit AISF on Monday lodged a police complaint against right-wing political observer TG Mohandas, alleging that his remarks on the recent student agitation in Delhi over NEET question paper leak amounted to inciting violence and warranted criminal action against him.
In a complaint submitted to the State Police Chief, the All India Students’ Federation (AISF) alleged that Mohandas had called for student protesters to be “shot dead”, amounting to an appeal for violence and mass killing.
They alleged that the objectionable remarks were made on a YouTube channel while speaking about the students’ protest over alleged NEET irregularities. Meanwhile, former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan also flayed Mohanddoss for his remarks and demanded action against him. AISF alleged that such remarks could not be treated as an expression of political opinion, but amounted to a direct challenge to constitutional values, the rule of law and the democratic right to peaceful protest.
According to the complaint, publicly advocating the use of State force to open fire on protesting students, with the possibility of deaths and grievous injuries, was an extremely dangerous statement that promoted violence, undermined the value of human life and had the potential to create fear and social unrest.
It further alleged that, since the remarks were circulated through digital media, they could spread rapidly, encourage violent thinking and promote lawlessness if left unchecked.
The complaint urged police to conduct a scientific examination of the complete video and audio recordings, verify the authenticity and content of the remarks, and investigate. It also sought the registration of a criminal case against Mohandas under all applicable legal provisions and called for an investigation about the YouTube channel that carried the remarks, the source of the video, digital records and its circulation across social media platforms.
In a separate statement, the AISF state executive alleged that Mohandas’ remarks reflected an ideology that rejected constitutional values, democratic rights and the principles of Kerala’s social reform movement.
