The proximate cause for the rise in tension has been the strong-arm methods used by the Government through the police to suppress the agitation launched by the Students Federation of India (SFI), Democratic Youth Federation f India (DYFI), the All India Students Federation (AISF) and the All India Youth Federation in protest against the Oommen Chandy Government’s ‘total surrender’ to the private college managements on the admission issue.

The brutal police action against the agitating students in the Kerala Capital of Thiruvananthapuram and other cities in which many student leaders and a CPI(M) MLA were injured, have evoked widespread confrontation, and heightened political tensions.

The UDF Government has none but itself to blame for allowing the confrontationist ambience to build up on the admission issue. If only it had acted in time, the students agitation and the consequent police excesses and tensions could have been avoided.

The Chandy Government which assumed power on May 18, 2011, was fully aware that the last date for admission to the 50 per cent seats in the self-financing medical colleges under the Government quota was May 31. It had almost two weeks to act. But it did not. The Government’s abject failure to take timely decision saw the managements exploiting the situation and filling up these seats.

The Government started acting only after the Student and youth organizations of the CPI(M) and the CPI launched their agitations. It suffered a setback when the Kerala High Court stayed a Government order taking over 50 per cent post-graduate seats in the self-financing medical colleges after these colleges had completed the admission process. The UDF government then moved the Supreme Court seeking an extension of the May 31 deadline. The apex court allowed the Government to conduct counseling for 50 per cent of the PG seats in the self-financing medical colleges and extended the deadline till July 1, 2011.

The SC order, which constitutes a severe setback to the managements, will allow the eligible students to get into the PG courses without having to fork out huge sums by way of capitation fee.

The SC order passed by Justice P Sathasivam and Justice A K Pathak has come down heavily on the managements of the private medical colleges for making a mess of medical education in the country.

The SC order also vindicates the agitation launched by the youth and students organizations of the LDF. The LDF leaders, who have warned the government against using strong-arm methods against the students and youth, has sought a judicial inquiry into the brutal police action. Failure to do so would result in the agitation being further intensified, they warned.

The issue also created uproarious scenes in the State Assembly with the ruling and opposition MLAs nearly coming to blows. The Speaker had to adjourn the house in an effort to allow tempers to cool. The assembly will now meet only on July 8. By that time, hopefully, the tension may ease.

It is evident that the latest political developments have clearly put the UDF government on the defensive. It remains to be seen what steps the government will initiate to cool tempers and bring down the political temperature. Unless it embraces the path of negotiations to resolve the sensitive issue, the state’s political atmosphere will continue to remain surcharged. Is the Oommen Chandy Government listening? (IPA)