Thiruvananthapuram (Keralam) [India], July 28 (ANI): Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) Kerala state secretary MV Govindan on Tuesday described the recent Delhi student protests as a “new chapter” in national politics, claiming that the agitation forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to retreat.
He also launched a sharp attack on RSS ideologue TG Mohandas for his controversial remarks on the protesters, and accused the Congress-led Keralam government of double standards in how it has handled cases linked to the protests.
Speaking to reporters, Govindan said, “The Delhi protest has opened a new chapter. It has become a historic movement that forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to retreat. Even the Supreme Court’s intervention has strengthened the confidence of those who believe in democracy.”
The remarks came against the backdrop of weeks-long protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The protest was called off in “good faith” following assurances from the Centre and the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union Education Minister.
Govindan also alleged that the police response to the protests was “extreme”.
“In several places, the protests were met with extreme force, with even AK-47 rifles being used against students. This is the first time I have even heard of the use of chilli bombs. Highly potent chilli agents were used against the protesters,” he said.
Govindan also took aim at Keralam media coverage of the protests, arguing that the contribution of Left-affiliated student groups had been sidelined.
“The CJP described Left student organisations as the soul of the agitation. However, the Malayalam media completely ignored the presence and role of the Left in the protests. This only reinforces the right-wing bias of the media,” he said.
Govindan also addressed the reported remarks by RSS ideologue TG Mohandas, where he made derogatory comments about women protesters and a violent approach towards protestors.
Referring to this controversy, Govindan said, “Democratic-minded people must speak out against TG Mohandas’ remarks. A call for violence and mass killings is a disgrace to any democratic society.”
Govindan further accused Chief Minister VD Satheesan’s government of selectively going after Left-linked demonstrators while going easy on Mohandas.
“The Satheesan government is hesitating to register a case against Mohandas. At the same time, cases were widely registered in Keralam against those who protested in support of the Delhi agitation. This clearly shows that Satheesan is aligning himself with Sangh Parivar politics,” he said.
On the Waqf Board appointments issue, MV Govindan said, “The Muslim League has betrayed the Muslim community. The League has shown that it is willing to abandon any stand for the sake of power.”
The state government recently reconstituted the Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board under the provisions of the new Waqf law, making it the first state in the country to do so. The newly constituted 10-member board includes, for the first time, two non-Muslim experts and four women members.
He also addressed the CMRL director SN Sasidharan Kartha allegedly admitting to the ED during questioning that payments were made to Veena T, daughter of Pinarayi Vijayan, due to his “personal relationship” with the former Keralam chief minister.
“Sasidharan Kartha’s statement is not new. We have no concern over it. The attempt all along has been to drag Pinarayi into the case. The claim that the money was given because of his acquaintance with the Chief Minister is completely baseless and absurd,” she said.
Govindan also spoke on the CPM’s internal review of its defeat in the 2026 Keralam Assembly elections.
Defending the process, Govindan said, “The Central Committee report was prepared after all of us examined the matter together. Wherever there were mistakes, the report has clearly pointed them out. I am part of the Central Committee, and the report was prepared collectively by the Central Committee and the Polit Bureau. You are free to write according to your imagination.”
Govindan also ruled out any immediate change in the party’s state leadership. “There will be no reshuffle in the State Secretariat or the State Committee. Any organisational changes will be decided only through the party conference and the Party Congress,” he said. (ANI)
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