By Shafeeq Hudawi, TwoCircles.net,
Kozhikode: More political parties, leftist groups and Muslim organisations and educational institutions are consolidating in venting their ire against what they have termed as ‘beef ban fascism’ of the Sangh Parivar.
After Sree Kerala Varma College in Thrissur and Maharaja’s College in Kochi it was turn of C M S College in Kottayam and S N College at Vadakara in Kozhikode to throw its hat into the ring of protests.
As mark of protest against the lynching of Mohammed Akhlaq at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh, who was murdered on the accusation of eating beef, beef fests are ebing organised by the Students Federation of India (SFI) in several colleges.
The beef fest, conceptualised by Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and SFI, is based on a simple concept — to feed beef to as many members of the public as possible. Cooked beef along with bread loaves are distributed to the student community in the educational institutions by SFI while DYFI activists serve it to the public in various public places.
Despite the threats by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and other Sangh Parivar organisations the event is receiving overwhelming response in the colleges in Kerala where beef is anyways not banned. “In a country with secular fabric, eating whatever one wants to is a personal choice. The intolerance, extended towards an individual’s food habits is against the spirit of national unity and secularism,” says one of the SFI activists in Maharaja’s College.
Meanwhile, the event led to undesirable incidents at Sree Kerala Varma College, CMS College and S N College, where the SFI activists had to face physical attacks from Sangh Parivar activists and action from college authorities.
Six SFI leaders were suspended from the college after fight erupted in the college between SFI and ABVP. The SFI workers were later left free after they were arrested on the charge of attacking ABVP activists.
Deepa Nisanth, a lecturer working with the Malayalam department of Kerala Varma College invited action from the authorities over her Facebook post, in which she wrote that if people wanted action to be taken against those teachers who supported the beef fest, her name should be right on top of the list. As the lecturer’s post went viral on social media, ABVP and Yuva Morcha demanded the college take action against her. The college authorities have sought explanation from the lecturer for the post.
Her Facebook post read: “I strongly disagree with the opinion that educational institutions should be like temples.
Educational institutions should not be following temple practices. I saw many demanding that action should be taken against teachers supporting the beef fest. I wish my name would be right on top of the list of people to be ousted… I support strikes that are necessary for the times.”
After an inquiry was initiated against the lecturer’s post, which she was forced to delete later under pressure from all quarters, she has found support on the social media with #SupportDeepaNisanth hashtag.
Former CPM state general secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, CPM leader and former Finance Minister Thomas Isac and Congress leader V T Balram MLA expressed their solidarity with the lecturer through their Facebook posts.
Similar scenario prevailed in S N College and C M S College, where the college authorities and police along with the Sangh Parivar activists took on SFI activists.
Earlier, the beef festival, organised by DYFI and Solidarity Youth Movement in front of Secretariat in state capital had drawn wide support from the general public and activists.
Other political parties including the Congress and IUML have backed the beef fests, being carried out by Left organisations. The beef fest was inaugurated at Maharaj’s College by Youth Congress leader, while the IUML activists and leaders took part in the fest, organised by DYFI in front of Secretariat.
Meanwhile, CPM leaders have exhorted the public to strongly protest against the ‘beef ban fascism’ saying it was denigrating the spirit of the secular credentials of the country. A statement, issued by CPM state general secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that the present grim scenario, where the freedom of eating is denied, urges for strong protest. “The society is obliged to express their support to the fight against fascism,” the statement said.
The Popular Front of India has also joined the protest by launching a ten day long campaign against the beef ban. The campaign, upholds the slogan ‘Eat Whatever You Want, Say Whatever You Want’, was launched on October 9.