SFI-AISF clashes hit CPM-CPI relations

T’PURAM: Clashes between the workers of the SFI and the AISF have turned an irritant in the CPM-CPI relations. The student organisations of both the parties have been on a collision course for the past few weeks, especially in Kollam district.

The continuing clashes have even become a law and order problem now. Earlier this month, the AISF workers disrupted a meeting addressed by the SFI state president Sindhu Joy at Kottarakkara St Gregorios college.

The other day, a girl student of Chavara Govt College and a member of AISF state committee were seriously injured in an attack, allegedly by the SFI-DYFI workers. Clashes occurred in several other places also, in which many students were injured.

The state leaderships of both the SFI and the AISF are now engaged in a war of words in a very provocative manner. While the SFI leadership flayed the AISF for protecting criminals, the latter retaliated by stating that the SFI had turned an abode of criminals. Meetings and counter-meetings are also going on.

Both the CPM and CPI are extending all sorts of help to their junior comrades in their fight by forming sub-committees at the college-levels. The CPI was very much agitated over the approach of the police in the clashes between the student organisations.

CPI Kunnathur taluk committee secretary has demanded action against a policeman who allegedly helped the SFI workers to attack an AISF worker at Sasthamcotta the other day.

The state executive committee meeting of the CPI which concluded here on Saturday had discussed the issue in a serious manner. Kollam district is a stronghold of the CPI in the state and the AISF has improved its position in few colleges there in the recent years, thanks to the factional feuds in the CPM.

In some areas, those who left the DYFI and the CPM joined the AIYF and the CPI, and helped the AISF in strengthening its base. At TKM Arts and Science College, Karicode, the AISF has been the winners of the college union elections for the last two years.

The clashes were the fallout of the attempts by the SFI, with the active support of the CPM, to regain its lost ground.