SFI on ongoing student movement in Himachal Pradesh

Central Executive committee of the Students’ Federation of India salutes the student community of Himachal and the state unit of SFI for showing extreme courage and conviction while facing most direct, extreme and brutal state repression. Chhatra Ekta Manch had given a call for state wide protest demo call in front of the HP secretariat at Chota Shimla today for a host of burning demands including roll back of the fee hike, against revocation of the SCA elections, roll back of the RUSA system and removal of the VC of HPU. As if complete disregard to the demands and sentiments of the student community, as well the wider mass was not enough; the police was misused by the state government to stop students who were on their way from the remote districts to participate in the rally in Shimla. Many buses filled with students were halted, many students were even arrested, and many others had to spend night in buses. Veerbhadra Government made every possible effort to stop student from joining the protest. In spite of every such attempt, 4000 strong protest demonstration was organised in Shimla and various road blockades were organised across the state.

Student movement of Himachal is giving a befitting reply to the neoliberal designs of the ruling classes who want to make education a commodity and has become a source of inspiration for the student movement in the entire country. In today’s political context in our country, whether be it in Jadavpur or be it in Himachal; students are on move- Students are on move demanding better and inclusive education, demanding democracy and opposing every single injustice. CEC pledges to carry forward the flame of our times with more vigour and more strength.

SFI panel for JNU Students Union Election 2014

The JNU Students Union (JNUSU) Elections 2014-15 are being held at time when a communal, far right force has come into power at the Centre in India. We have been witness, in the recent months, to a spate of assaults on people’s rights and livelihoods, and on the secular fabric of our society in a number of ways, including unrelenting price rise, increasing communal violence and efforts to communalise education. The Union which will be elected in the upcoming elections will have to rise up to the challenges thrown up by the new situation, especially given the experience that the last BJP-led government had made every effort to introduce obscurantist, communal curriculum (in the form of courses like ‘human consciousness’) even in JNU, which was defeated by the united resistance of students under the leadership of the SFI-led JNUSU of 2001-02.

In the JNU campus, however, there is tremendous discontent and anger today among the students against the previous AISA-led Union which did nothing with regard to the most important students’ demands on hostels and scholarships. The students of JNU have been hit hard by the most severe shortage of hostel rooms that JNU has experienced in the recent decades, and the Unions in the recent years, led by DSF and AISA, have responded with callousness, inaction and false claims. Similarly on the demand to increase Merit-Cum-Means (MCM) scholarships for BA/MA students from Rs. 2000 to Rs. 3000, the last Union refused to stage even a single protest. We have also seen a tremendous setback to the gender-just ethos of JNU in the recent weeks, with the JNUSU President and Joint Secretary (both from AISA) resigning after they violated the rules and procedures of the Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) by bringing out a public statement on a GSCASH case against themselves. The urgent task of the Union which will be elected in the upcoming elections, therefore, would be to revive the legacy of the JNU students’ movement, which has historically been known for its relentless and sincere struggles to concretely advance students’ rights and contribute to the larger struggle for radical social transformation.

It is with this perspective of reinvigorating the JNUSU, and foregrounding an agenda of ensuring accommodation facilities for students (including expansion of hostel facilities and alternative accommodation for all students until new hostels are constructed), enhancement of scholarships, further democratization of the admission policy by eliminating the scope for all kinds of discrimination in the admission process and ensuring gender justice through unyielding struggle and vigorous sensitisation, that SFI is facing the JNUSU Elections 2014-15.

                                Our central panel for the election is as follows: 

                                         For President – Pindiga Ambedkar

                                             For Vice-President - Salini LR
 

                                       For General Secretary – Najeeb VR 

                                      For Joint Secretary – Dinesh Kataria.

Councillor Candidates:

School of Social Sciences – Balu Raj, Dipsita Dhar, Manish Kumar, Satarupa Chakraborty, Twinkle Siwach

School of International Studies – Amal Pullarkat, Prasanta Kumar Sahu, Sanjukta Nath, Shibin Xavier, Sudeep Kumar Jaiswal

School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies – Adarsh MV , Akshat Seth, Kumari Anjali, Md Amir Malik, Sruti Md

School of Arts and Aesthetics – Nisam Asaf K J

Centre for the Study of Law and Governance – Jeemut Pratim Das.

School of Biotechnology- Aparna C R

We appeal to the students of JNU to rally behind the SFI to revitalise the students’ movement and to take our struggle for a more egalitarian and just society forward.

SFI won student union elections in Rajasthan

Central executive committee congratulates Rajasthan state committee for encouraging victory in student union elections in Rajasthan held on 23^rd August, 2014. This victory of SFI is more significant when state government has used all his machinery and power to tilt the results in favour of ABVP.

One of the important results is of S. K. College Sikar, the historical strong hold of SFI. On the lines of earlier elections all anti SFI forces were united here against SFI and used all kinds of tools but yet again students gave their mandate to struggles of SFI. In S. K. College Suresh Kumar Dhaka won the president post with 2491 votes by a margin of 287votes, meanwhile Mahender is elected as vice president, Yogesh kumar as general secretary and dropti verma as joint secratary, with margins of above 600votes. SFI also won full panel in Government Girls college Sikar

SFI contested student union elections for the first time in Dr. Sampuranand Ayurvedic University, Jodhpur and won the full panel. Same thing was repeated in Barmer Government College where SFI became victorious. SFCI won most of the colleges in districts like Jhunjhunu, Shri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh and alwar. But after winning election president of student union is brutally attacked by BJP goons and attacks are also there at his home.

SFI lost the post of president post by mere 62 votes in Jodhpur University where heavy irregularities were witnessed. University authority was working under the directions of BJP government and SFI candidate was defeated using unfair means by the nexus of BJP and university authorities. Even after repeated protests recounting is not done giving an example of dictatorial attitude of university authorities.  Initially SFI presidential candidate was declared winner but then BJP leaders entered the counting place and result was changed after which no plea is being considered.

Corruptions of authorities become more apparent in view of huge margin of victory by SFI candidate Roshni Vishnoi for the post of general secretary. Central committee demand independent enquiry of corruption in student union elections in jodhpur university (Jai Narayan Vyas University).

These are the first student union elections after general parliament elections and these results conveys a clear message that so called Modi wave is over and student community as not with ideology of BJP because ABVP’s elections campaign was centered around Modi’s wave. It is important to note here that in Rajasthan state government is of BJP.

We also thanks to student community of Rajasthan for their support and pledge to carry forward their struggle for a better education policy.

SFI seminar at chennai

Students’ Federation of India – Tamilnadu State Committee successfully held a seminar in the topic of ” The Challenges faced by the Tamilnadu School Education” at Chennai on June 7, 2014.

 In this seminar various resolutions were passed:

*To implement Right to Education Act for the people who were belonging to socially & economically weaker section and the state government to take stringent action to ensure 25% reservation in pvt schools. Most of the pvt schools refused to give reservation and act against the Constitution. The state government should cancel the affiliation to the schools which refuses to implement the RTE Act.

*To cancel the affiliation of  pvt schools which collects exorbitant fees which need not collect the fees fixed by the fee committee.

*To enact separate law for Compulsory education in the Mother Tongue.

The special seminar gives a call for a protest on June 11, 2014 in front of the district head quarters of Chief Education Officer demanding the above said demands.

SFI victory in HCU elections

Central Executive committee of Students’ Federation of India Congratulates the student community for voting in large number in support of the SFI panel in the recently concluded students’ union elections in the Hyderabad Central University, despite the unprecedented campaign of lies and slander, by the united opposition consisting of all political shades. SFI registered an emphatic victory, winning all the major executive posts. This is the fourth consecutive time that the student community of HCU has stood behind the banner of “Independence, Democracy and Socialism”. Shirisha V. (pursuing Integrated Masters in Economics) became the first ever woman President of the Students’ Union in the history of HCU by defeating the nearest rival candidate of ABVP by more than 90 votes. The post of General Secretary was won by another SFI candidate Sandeep Kumar (pursuing MCA) won the post with a margin of more than 50 votes. Aditya Harish contesting from SFI panel won the post of Joint Secretary by defeating the nearest candidate of ABVP by more than 90 votes.

This is a translation of solid commitment of the SFI unions over these four years to the needs and aspirations of the student community, while not wavering even for a moment from the larger goal of aligning with the broader movement for the social transformation. SFI approached the Students’ Union Election with a clear cut manifesto upholding its uncompromising stand against the commercialization, privatization of education and communal politics while upholding the commitment for social, economic and woman empowerment. HCU Unit has played a creative role in redrawing the political contours of HCU, which hasn’t remained aloof from the neo-liberal onslaught on the public education as seen throughout the country.

Whether be it the attempts of fee hike, imposition of service charges, handover of the university land to land mafia, moral policing and restrictions on mobility of girl students; SFI has thwarted all regressive attempts of the administration over these years. We are confident that the newly elected union under the leadership of Comrade Shirisha will not only take this legacy forward, but will take it to newer heights. We congratulate the SFI unit committee of the Hyderabad Central University and the Andhra Pradesh State committee for the excellent results in the elections.

At this juncture, we would like to reassert the fact that in the past few months, student community of the Country has wholeheartedly supported SFI in most of the places, where elections to the colleges and Universities have been conducted. Rajasthan, Himachal, Kerala and Tripura are testimony to this glaring fact. We would like to particularly highlight the experience of Tripura, where SFI candidates have emerged as victorious in all the seats, for which elections were conducted. We need to carry this crimson red flame of ‘Study and struggle’ forward to those parts also where the neo-liberal onslaught on education, livelihoods and social justice still remains unabated.

Maharashtra State Joint convention of DYFI and SFI

Preethy Sekhar (Secretary, DYFI Maharashtra state committee)

Maharashtra State Joint convention of DYFI and SFI against acute unemployment and rampant commercialization of education calls for state level agitation.

The convention decided on a plan of action to mobilize youth and students in a big way in the movement. The campaign will start in campuses, town centres and villages in the month of October followed by district / taluka level rallies in early November. A state wide rally will be held in Mumbai on 29th and charter of demands will be submitted to state government. 

From December onwards sustained agitations will be organized across the state on specific demands. The struggles will be directed against various authorities considering the level of authority at which the specific demand can be achieved. Later, volunteers from all districts will gather once more to the state capital -this time for a sustained agitation at state head quarters of government departments and PSUs.

The convention also decided to prepare a draft urban employment guarantee bill for Maharashtra state with the help of pro-people economists, retired administrative officers and legal experts. 

DYFI and SFI in Maharashtra are determined to mobilize youth and students in a big way to put up a militant resistance against commercialization of education and policies creating unemployment.

The convention was attended by Com. Ashok Dawle, CPIM Maharashtra state secretary, Com. V Sivadasan All India Secretary, SFI. 

Ensure Punishment to the Criminal Elements Who Indulged in Sexual Harassment, Ragging and Intimidation of Girl Students in Pondicherry University!

The Central Executive Committee of the Students’ Federation of India strongly condemns the instances of sexual harassment, ragging and intimidation of girl students in Pondicherry University (PU) and the violence let loose against students who supported the girls.

The students of the University conducted a massive protest on Tuesday (1 October) night against the aforesaid criminal acts in the campus. Some girl students had filed a complaint against ragging and threat of rape by a group of senior students. The Kalapet police has filed an FIR against the aggressor under IPC sections 506(II) and 509. The students who supported the girl students in filing the complaint were under threat for the past few days,
and on Tuesday morning, a gang of hooligans manhandled them. They threatened that they would cut off the legs of those students who stood with the girl students if the assailants are suspended from the University because of the complaint filed by the girl students. The gang also brutally beat up one of the students; his tooth was broken and he had to be admitted in JIPMER, Pondicherry.

The security personnel of the University remained mute spectators throughout even as the gang unleashed violence. When the girl complainant approached the Vice-Chancellor with her grievance, she was discouraged from filing the complaint – the VC’s prime “concern” was that the “reputation” of the institution would be spoiled. Such insensitivity of the University authorities has been one of the prime causes for the continuance of instances of
sexual harassment in the campus. Following recent incidents, the students are under constant fear of being attacked at any moment. Ever since she filed the complaint, the girl student who was harassed has been continuously subjected to intimidation and threatened that she wouldn’t be allowed to complete her course of
study in the University.

Even more shockingly, the attempts to intimidate her are being led by a faculty member of the Department of Physical Education. There are also attempts to divert attention from the matter by fabricating false cases against the students who helped the girls in filing the complaint against the attacker. The protest on Tuesday night saw massive participation of girl students and others. The students demanded that the University must take steps on an urgent basis to stop ragging, sexual harassment and goonda raj in
the campus, and that the University must set up a Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) to address complaints of sexual harassment in the University.

The CEC of SFI demands that Pondicherry University must promptly take steps to ensure the safety and security of girl students in the campus and that the culprits in the case must be given exemplary punishment. We demand that a GSCASH be set up in the University immediately as the students have been demanding. It is appalling that sixteen years after the Supreme Court (in its Vishaka judgement of 1997) laid down binding directives regarding the formation of committees to deal with cases of sexual harassment, and in spite of the recently passed law against sexual harassment in workplaces, GSCASH has not been formed even in most central Universities. SFI demands that GSCASH should be constituted in all Universities and colleges in the country in order to effectively address cases of sexual harassment in campuses and to sensitise students on gender issues. The incidents in PU should serve to underscore the need for intensifying our struggle against ragging in campuses across the country and to establish GSCASH in all campuses.

SFI condemns attack on Himachal Pradesh University Students union office by RSS goons

Central Executive committee of the Students’ federation of India condemns the attack by RSS-ABVP on the student’s union office of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla yesterday, yet again showing the values which they represent. 7 students, including elected vice-president of the students’ union (SCA), Gopal Singh and the secretary of the SFI HPU unit, Hoshiyar singh and state joint secretary, Vivek Rana have been critically injured in this attack. Among these 7 students, 5 are state committee members of SFI. Armed with khukri and iron rods, RSS-ABVP lumpens attacked the union office around 8:30 a.m. yesterday and indiscriminately started attacking whosoever was present there. All the students are now admitted in IGMC hospital, Shimla and particularly Comrade Gopal continues to be in a very critical condition, with serious head injuries and deep cuts on both his hands.

This attack comes barely a day after our brave, young 18-year old Comrade Sajin Shahul succumbed to similar attack by the communal forces of reaction in Kerala. At a time, when throughout the country attempts are being made to step up the communal polarization, SFI is steadfastly resisting every such attempts and that’s why SFI activists are facing the brunt of such attacks. At a time when attempts are being made to re-write the history and ruin the future, we resolve to remain true to our tradition- the tradition of unflinching and uncompromising struggle for the secular values.

Condemn the Murder of SFI Activist by RSS-ABVP Goons in Kerala!

 The Central Executive committee of the Students’ Federation of India salutes the brave martyr Comrade Sajin Shahul, who succumbed today to injuries he sustained in an attack by RSS-ABVP goons in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Com. Sajin was a student of Government ITI, Dhanuvachapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, and was in the forefront of the fight against communal-fascist forces. The fatal attack occurred on 29 August, when RSS-ABVP thugs attacked his institute and threw bombs at SFI activists. Com. Sajin, who was only 18 years old, suffered serious head injuries and was on ventilator for a month until he passed away today in the morning.

Violent attacks by Sanghi goons are nothing new to our campuses; it was only one year ago – on 26th September 2012 – that another SFI activist, Com. Rohit, was brutally murdered by ABVP hooligans in Himachal Pradesh for having stopped them from harassing a girl student of his college. In Kerala, where the SFI has fought a determined and uncompromising battle against communalism in campuses, its activists have been the targets of Hindutva terrorists for a long time now. Thousands of SFI activists have bravely faced such attacks in various parts of the country, and many, like comrades Sajin and Rohit, have had to put their lives on the line in the course of this protracted struggle.
SFI dips its banner in honour of our valiant comrade and pledges to continue the fight to fulfill his unfinished tasks. The CEC of SFI appeals to the student community to rise up in protest against the dastardly murder of Com. Sajin, and calls for an All India Protest Day on 3 October 2013 (Thursday) to be observed all across the campuses and units of the country in militant solidarity with our struggle against communal-fascism.

SFI's Creditable performance in JNUSU elections 2013

SFI has registered a creditable performance in this year's JNU Students Union (JNUSU) Elections. As most of you know, a disruption of an unprecedented scale occurred last year in SFI's JNU Unit. Subsequently we have worked to build up the Unit once again, and the speed and verve with which we have bounced back is extremely heartening.

The JNUSU Elections 2013-14 have been won by All India Students Association (AISA), which has won all four office-bearer posts, namely President, Vice-President, General Secretary and Joint Secretary, and a majority of councillor posts. AISA had the Vice-President, General Secretary and Joint Secretary posts along with a majority in the JNUSU Council in the outgoing union as well.

Last year, the President post had been won by an outfit which contested in the name "SFI-JNU", and which later changed its name to Democratic Students Federation (DSF). This year the DSF's President candidate polled 786 votes less than last year. DSF candidates finished second in the President, Vice-President and Joint Secretary posts, and third in the General Secretary post. DSF had five councillors last year, which has now declined to just one.

Though it has not won any post this year, SFI has substantially improved its number of votes, vote share and relative position. Two councillor candidates (one in the School of Social Sciences and one in the School of Arts and Aesthetics) lost by 3 votes each. The number of votes polled by SFI candidates is given below, along with the figures for last year:

President -
2013: Rahul N - 329
2012: 107

Vice-President -
2013: Viswanathan V - 359
2012: 280

General Secretary -
2013: Gourab Ghosh - 599
2012: Did not contest

Joint Secretary -
2013: Did not contest;
2012: 214

[Total number of votes polled - 4545 in 2013; 4309 in 2012]

[SSS - School of Social Sciences; SL - School of Languages; SIS - School of International Studies; SAA - School of Arts and Aesthetics]

SSS Councillors (Five posts):

2012: Two candidates - polled 134 and 124 votes [Total votes polled in SSS - 1125]

2013: Five candidates -
Balu S - 324
Paaritosh Nath - 297
Najeeb V R - 230
Dipsita Dhar - 167
Manish Kumar - 161
[Total votes polled in SSS - 1194]

SL Councillors (Five posts):

2012: One candidate - polled 65 votes [Total votes polled in SL - 1475]

2013 - Five candidates -
Aparna Mahiyaria - 212
Ravi Kant - 97
Salini L R - 97
Haritha P - 95
Sruti M D - 82
[Total votes polled in SL - 1584]

SIS Councillors (Five posts):

2012 - Two candidates - polled 84 and 41 votes
[Total votes polled in SIS - 733]

2013 - Five candidates -
Gunjan Priya - 145
Nitheesh Narayanan K V - 132
Shibin Xavier - 127
Sharad Kumar - 82
Ajith E A - 52
[Total votes polled in SIS - 785]

SAA Councillor (one post):

2012 - 28 votes
[Total votes polled in SAA - 89]

2013 -
Anand Sachin K R - 44
[Total votes polled in SAA - 95]

SFI's emphatic march of Victory in Rajastan

SFI General Secretary Ritabrata Banerjee and President Dr V Sivadasan has issued the following statement

Central Executive committee of the Students’ Federation of India congratulates its Rajasthan state unit for registering emphatic victory in the students’ union elections which were held in the state yesterday. Elections were held in nearly 150 colleges and 9 Universities of the state, out of which SFI contested in 85 colleges and 2 universities, spread across 12 districts of the state. SFI candidates have emerged victorious in 67 colleges and the 2 very important University centres of Jodhpur and Bikaner- a big leap forward from last year’s tally of 44 colleges and 1 university.

SFI improved its performance in the Jai Narayan Vyas University of Jodhpur, sweeping the entire panel this time. Mahendra Jakhad has been elected as President, Lakshmi as Vice President, and Pramila Meena as General Secretary and Madhusudan Gurjar as Joint secretary. 8449 votes were polled. SFI candidates defeated NSUI on all 4 posts, victory margins being 167,150,371 and 1275 respectively. Jodhpur is a politically important district and is also the constituency of chief minister Ashok Gehlot. The mandate of the University elections has left the ruling Congress party in jittery and orchestrated scenes of violence have been seen on the streets of Jodhpur, injuring 6 students by the time this statement was being prepared. SFI candidate Ajeet Singh Poonia won the President post in the Maharaja Ganga Singh University of Bikaner, defeating the ABVP candidate by the margin of 26 votes. This is for the first time SFI won in Bikaner University. In the Rajasthan University,Jaipur SFI supported candidate Rajesh Mandia finished third on the post of President with 1098 votes. SFI also won 3 Department representatives (DRs) in Rajasthan University.

In S.K. college of Sikar- biggest college of the state, with 13000 enrolled students- entire panel of SFI has emerged victorious. Navdeep Singh has been elected as President, Iliyas Ali as Vice-President, Mahendra Kadiya as General Secretary and Sharda Kumari Kalwaniya as Joint Secretary.

Apart from this, SFI has won 99% of seats in the colleges of Hanumangarh and Ganganagar districts. The old bases in Taranagar, Sardarshahar, Didwana, Jhunjhunu and Churu have been retained with students coming out in large numbers in support of the SFI panels. It has to be mentioned that SFI had lost in Taranagar and Jhunjhunu last year.

Certain points clearly emerge from these results. The dominance of the 2 main students’ organizations of the ruling class- NSUI and ABVP- has reduced drastically throughout the state. Out of the total 9 Universities in the State, ABVP has won 2, NSUI 1, SFI 2 and the remaining 4 have been won by the independents and local level organizations. This clearly reflects the urge for a credible non-NSUI and non-ABVP alternative, and given the fact that the assembly elections in the state are only few months away, this is going to leave its mark in the assembly elections also.

Further, the growing prestige and strength of SFI has to be seen in the light of the fact that it was the relentless struggle of SFI that lead to the revival of the students’ union elections in the state. After the ban on polls during the reign of Chief Minister Vasundhara Rajess Scindia, SFI was able to build the movement of restoration of campus democracy throughout the state. This forced Ashok Gehlot to keep it as one of his pre-poll promises, and after assuming office, he was forced to implement his promise with thousands of students gheraoing the assembly, while the left MLAs were arguing for it inside the assembly. In the last 4 years, performance of SFI has grown by leaps and bounds. Elected unions of SFI have been role model for any leftist student union, with continuous agitation demanding better infrastructure in the colleges, increase in seats and so on. The movement for increase in seats in the colleges- ‘Paas kiya hai toh pravesh do’- has proved to be the most important initiative by the organization, forcing administration to increase seats at many places. Along with the issues of the students, SFI has also been at the forefront of the struggles of the other sections as well- most glorious being the movement for electricity and water by the farmers. It is this continuous and relentless work that has given organization the prestige which it today enjoys in the state.

These elections also saw brazen attempts of caste mobilizations by the ruling class and this is going to be the biggest challenge for the organization in the coming days. We will have to carry forward the mandate of this victory by speeding up the process of building more and more bigger unity of the students. This is the only way ahead in the fight against such forces that seek to maintain and fan the caste tensions.

CEC is confident that the organization will gear itself for these new challenges and continue its forward march in the state. The 10th September ‘Dilli Chalo’ shall mark another stepping stone in this fight.

Students of Himachal elect SFI yet again!

SFI General Secretary Ritabrata Banerjee and President Dr V Sivadasan have issued the following statement.

Central Executive committee of the Students’ Federation of India congratulates the Himachal Pradesh state committee for registering clean sweep in the SCA elections of the Himachal Pradesh University for 23rd time in the past 29 years, as well winning a large number of seats in the various colleges of the state. SFI won all the four seats of the panel with Rajan Hartta winning the presidential post, Gopal Singh becoming vice president, Piyush Sewal winning the secretary post and Monika Dhadda winning the joint secretary post. SFI candidates in all the four seats defeated ABVP candidates with victory margins being 194, 5, 247 and 267 votes respectively. SFI also won 32 Department representatives (DRs) out of the total 50 DRs in HPU.

SFI also swept the entire panel in the lone girl college in the state Rajkiya Kanya Mahavidyayala of Shimla. In Evening College Shimla the SFI retained all the 4 central posts. Out of nearly 200 central posts contested in the colleges of the entire state SFI won 74 central posts. In 5 Colleges SFI lost the Presidential post by very thin margins of 10 to 15 votes.

These results have been achieved in spite of the fact that there was a tacit understanding between the NSUI and ABVP. In Hamirpur- the assembly of former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and also the home town of the state president of Congress Sukhwinder Sukhhu, SFI has swept all 15 central seats. It is to be noted that SFI activist Rohit was murdered in Hamirpur last year by ABVP goons for protesting against eve teasing. This is for the first time the performance of SFI has been such impressive in Hamirpur.

Even in Mandi- the home district of Chief Minister Veerbhadra singh- SFI has won 11 central seats giving a fitting response to the ruling Congress party. Results in many colleges show that both NSUI and ABVP have transferred votes for each other’s candidates on different posts, so that the SFI candidates could be defeated. In the run up to the students’ union elections, college administration at many places acted on the behest of the ruling Congress party to cancel the nominations of many of SFI candidates on some pretext or the other. In many places Congress and BJP goons kidnapped entire panels of SFI.

Facing such difficulties SFI has emerged as not only victorious in the students’ union elected, but also as the preferred choice of the student community of the state.

These results show the faith that the students have in SFI. It is the faith with which we have been able to defeat every anti-student move of the ruling classes. Even in this year’s elections, SFI went into the polls on the agenda of intensifying the fight against RUSA (Rashtriya Uchchtar Shiksha Abhiyaan) - a clear neo-liberal model of higher education which has been pushed through in the state in the name of quality and student centric system, but has actually restricted the entry to higher education. Election results are clearly a mandate against RUSA and all other anti-student measures brought by the state and central governments. As the 10th September ‘Dilli Chalo’ call of CEC draws nearer, this mandate will be channelized into even bigger mobilizations.

SFI All India Girls Students Convention Begins

 All India Girls Convention on the central theme "Fight Patriarchy," organised  Students Federation of India (SFI) began on 10th July in the hill city of Shimla. The Convention began with a huge students rally which was inaugurated by CPIM PB member Com. Brinda Karat. SFI activists took out rally from the old railway building to Sabzi Mandi (Vegitable market) ground.    Com. Brinda Karat has said that she will raise the issue of introduction of semester system and choice based credit system (CBCS) under the RashtriyaUchchtarShikhsaAbhiyan (RUSA) during the next parliamentary session. The new academic process has been introduced by Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) for its campus courses and affiliated colleges across the state, which has met with vociferous protests from different student organisations. 


Brinda said, "HP government and HPU have forced the new system of RUSA on students without holding prior discussions with them and other stakeholders. It is an outcome of the neo-liberal polices of the respective governments in the state as well as the Centre. The governments are bent on replicating systems, which are prevalent in America, including the four-year degree programme." 

She added that other parliamentarians too would raise voice against RUSA as it is aimed at uprooting the Indian education system. Karat said, "HPU has set a precedent in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in ensuring equality and a liberal atmosphere to girls as their enrolment rate is nearly 67% here, which is commendable." 
       Expressing concern over the increasing crimes against women, she said it is the need of the hour to ensure autonomy for women, treat them as equal individuals and provide a secure and safe atmosphere. "Keeping in view the increasing assaults, it is necessary to ensure certainty of punishment and see that offenders complete their term of punishment," she remarked. 

SFI Himachal Pradesh state secretary Khushi Verma said, "SFI has organised the convention to discuss issues like condition of girl students and increasing need of security for college and university girls in HP and other states. Safety of women in society at large and stringent steps to curb sexual crimes are also on the agenda."
   

Chained with Hospital Bed: Mamata’s Police Treats SFI Activist

Few days back, veteran nonagenarian Left and Forward Block leader Asoke Ghosh lamented Mamata’s police has surpassed the British police of pre-independent India in the context of unleashing attack on democratic movement. Within a few days Mamata’s police leave another example of such attack. Santosh Sahani, a first year BA student and local SFI activist, found chained to the hospital bed at the North Bengal Medical College Hospital on 16th April, 2013. The treatment with detained SFI activist can only be compared with the measure used by the British police against the freedom fighters. Santosh has his University examination on 18th April. Santosh was among the Left activists who were detained in false charge framed by the police under direction of local TMC Minister.

Santosh was feeling well after his arrest. He became unconscious when he was produced in court on 11th April and was admitted to the Siliguri Sadar Hospital. It is also alleged that the local TMC leaders including a minister preserised the hospital authority to release Santosh quickly. He was released from the hospital on 14th April and sent to Siliguri jail. But as his condition deteriorated he was admitted to the jail hospital. On the next day, he was sent to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital and admitted to the male medical ward with handcuffs on his left leg.

Former Minister and Convener of Darjeeling District Left Front Ashok Bhattacharya, Secretary of CPI(M) Darjeeling District Committee Jibesh Sarkar visited the hospital and demanded to unchain Santosh immediately. They said the matter is a blatant violation of human rights. Noted lawyer and former Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation said the matter is inhuman and total violation of Supreme Court guideline. SFI has also demanded a thorough probe into this brutal act.

Biman Basu, the secretary of CPI(M) West Bengal State Committee and Chairman of the West Bengal Left Front has said that the so-called human face of the TMC Government is getting unmasked. He further said that police is filing false cases against so many persons in Siliguri. Such things have become practice in today’s West Bengal. The attack on democratic movements has surpassed the emergency period, he added.

Angry protest by SFI in Delhi

Delhi state committee of the Students Federation  of India  hold an angry protest at Banga Bhvan againt the cold blooded  murder of Comrade  Sudipto Gupta,.They were  joined by  DYFI ,JMS and other mass organisations.

While Sitaram Yechury addressed the meeting. Among those who were present were, Jogendera Sharma member of  CPI(M) secretaiat, Pushpendra Grewal state secretary of  Delhi party,  B  Balagopal CPI(M)  MP and M B Rajesh MP  DYFI President,  Nurul Hooda and Bijoo Krishana (AIKS),  Vijay Prasad, NK Sharma, Sudhanva Despande, Rajndra Prasad. etc. Sunand CEC member  of SFI.,  JMS leader Sonia Verma, as well the JNUSU representatives were also presentetc

Banga Bhavan was never protected by so  many police personnel.,  Hundreds of protesters assembled  in the Barakhama  Road side of Hailey Road and marched  towards Banga Bhavan carrying SFI flags and  placards  decrying the incidents and  raisng  slogans. They broke the  barricades, as well as the locked gates. Angry protesters sloganeered inside the building for more than  half and hours shouting slogans before  coming out  after which  a public meeting was organised.

Sitram Yechuy MP  who was also All India President  of SFI  said that as  Com.  Sudpito was killed in the police custody, which means the police is responsible  for it, that means the government is responsible. He demanded  immediate constiution of a  judicial enquiry   to look into the matter. He said this  incident was  not a one off  case of police brutality , rather it shows the deterioration of law and order, and the continous assault on democracy and democratic institutions in last two years, since the Mamata bannerkjee  led government came to power in the state.  There  have been more  than 600 instances of attacks on elected students  unions and students activites.
He said   the incidents of the  killing of  a  SFI  leader reminds us of the 1972 semi fascists terror  in West Bengal  which was followed  taking away of democratic rights of the people  in the form of emergency all over the country.
In this present situation prevailing in the countrry, it is important for us to realise, that as gradually  it is a  going on the way of repeat of 1972 semi fascist terror is West Bengal, what will follow in the entire country , one should ponder.
He said protest will continue , come what may.

Thousands Join in Funeral Rally of SFI Leader in Kolkata

 

Thousands of protestors joined in the funeral rally of Comrade Sudipta Gupta, SFI leader who was killed on Tuesday in police brutality. SFI leader’s body was taken to his home and his former college in Netaji Nagar in south Kolkata after post mortem. Then the body was taken to SFI state office in A. J. C. Bose Road where hundreds of students, youth and people from all walks of life were waiting for hours. Left leaders including Biman Basu, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Surjya Kanta Mishra, Ashoke Ghosh paid their tributes to the departed young comrades. Amidst slogans, student activists vowed to continue their fight against the authoritarian State Government. A huge rally then marched towards the crematorium.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had gone to the SSKM Hospital on Wednesday where Gupta succumbed to his injuries but instead of criticizing the police action, she said that it was an accident and that many supporters of her own party were also killed while travelling on train roof. She instantly faced protest from the SFI supporters after making the statement and the latter alleged that the CM guarded the police department and there was little chance that the guilty would be punished.
The family of the slain student leader refused to accept help from the chief minister. "We are not beggars," said Gupta's emotional father.
West Bengal witnessed another gruesome attack on democratic rights which cost this young life. SFI leader Sudipta Gupta was killed in a brutal police attack on SFI activists in Kolkata on 2nd April. A member of SFI West Bengal state committee, Sudipta was brutally beaten after arrest and died on his way to jail in police custody. He was 23, just completed his MA in Political Science from Rabindra Bharati University. Sudipta was a frontline organizer, a member of Kolkata district secretariat of SFI, popular among students and friends, with a skilled voice of singing.
Four Left students’ organizations called for a law breaking programme to protest the draconian decision of the State Government banning all students’ union elections in the state. Thousands of students marched from College Street and assembled in Rani Rasmoni Road in Kolkata and expressed their anger against the Government action. They moved forward defying police lathicharge. Hundreads were arrested and taken into private buses under police custody. They were taken to Alipore Jail. On the way to jail, police started to beat the arrested SFI activists in a bus. Some of the SFI activists fell from the bus, Sudipta being one of them. He was grievously injured bur was not spared by police. According to eye witnesses, Sudipta was beaten even after he fell down from the bus. Sudipta suffered a serious head injury. In fact he was so roughly beaten that his head and face were fractured severely. SFI activists rescued him and police put the injured SFI leader in a police jeep. The jeep brought him to SSKM hospital but after delaying for about 15minutes. He was admitted in the hospital but expired after few hours.
Many other SFI activists suffered injuries. The right hand of Sheikh Jogesh Hossain of Murshidabad was badly injured and he has undergone an emergency operation in Kolkata medical College Hospital.
Kolkata police, in a surprise action, called a press conference even before Sudipta’s death and offered the theory of ‘accident’. According to them Sudipta hit a lamppost while in bus. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee legitimized this police version even after SFI registered a formal complaint against the police.
This brutal attack caused an outrage throughout the state. SFI and other left students organizations hold demonstration and processions throughout the state. Thousands participated in the funeral rally of the departed comrade. A statewide students strike was observed on 4th April. Teachers’ organizations condemned the killing.
Meanwhile, Left Front demanded a judicial enquiry of the incident. Left Front called a strike in southern parts of Kolkata, where Sudipta lived on 4th April.
Sudipta Gupta is 93rd martyr of the left movement in West Bengal after TMC Government came into power.

Death of Comrade Sudipto will not go in vain! Intensify the struggle against Mamta Banerjee’s authoritarian rule in West Bengal!

Central Executive committee of the Students’ Federation of India dips its banner in the memory of Comrade Sudipto Gupta, a state committee member of the West Bengal State committee, who succumbed to fatal injuries today, while a protest in Kolkata was severely lathicharged by the police. The brutality was so severe that even his eyeballs came out. This incident brought back the haunting memories of the Bidhan Chandra Roy’s regime when police used such brutal measures against the protesters. The death of the brave, young 23 year old boy speaks volumes about the state of democracy in West Bengal under the Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee’s regime.

This protest was called by the 4 left students’ organizations against the series of moves by the state government which seek to curb campus democracy, the most retrograde of which plans to limit the students’ union elections to once every 2 years. What really made the ruling masters fear to this extent that they had to cut short this young life? History has all the answers. Even during the regime of semi-fascist terror of the 1970s, the campuses of West Bengal were the dens of resistance. Today when Mamta Banerjee is leaving no stone unturned to again take back Bengal to that dark period of terror, it is again from the campuses that the voices of resistances are picking up and joining with those struggling outside. Be it the curb on campus democracy or the cold blooded murder of Sudipto Gupta- everything reflects this fear. But, let it be made clear that the martyrhood of our brave comrade shall not go in vain. In the coming days the struggle against the authoritarian regime of Mamta Banerjee shall become sharper and sharper.

The Central Executive of the Students’ Federation of India calls for an All India Protest day on 4th April across the campuses and units of the country against this heinous attack on the democratic rights, when the students of West Bengal will go for a massive statewide strike.