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Idukki, Oct 21 (IANS) A controversy has erupted after students and parents of Kerala Government Nursing College, Idukki, alleged that CPI-M district secretary CV Varghese threatened them during a meeting held to discuss their ongoing protest over poor infrastructure at the institute.
The students, who have been on strike since October 16 demanding basic facilities including a hostel at Penavu – a promise earlier made by state Water Resources Minister Roshi Augustine (who is from the district), claimed Varghese made derogatory remarks and warned that the college could be closed if the agitation continued.
According to the participants, Varghese reportedly told the gathering, “If you want to study, read. The party knows how to close the college it helped establish.”
The controversial remarks were reportedly made during a meeting on October 18, which was originally scheduled at the District Collector’s office, but was later shifted to the CPI-M district office in Cheruthoni citing the Collector’s absence.
The meeting was attended by the college principal, two faculty members, the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) president, two PTA executive members and five student representatives.
At the meeting, the District Secretary rejected the students’ primary demand for a hostel at Penavu, and said that the government would provide alternative accommodation and the college would be closed if it refused to accept it.
He reportedly mocked the students, saying that their protest would only waste two years of their studies and would yield no results.
Participants further alleged that when a PTA member spoke in support of the students, Varghese responded with a personal threat, asking “Do you really know who I am?”
Reacting to the development, Idukki Lok Sabha member and Congress leader Dean Kuriakose said strange things are happening because it is the CPI-M district secretary who is doing all this. The Congress MP asked what right he had to participate in it and that those responsible had also done wrong in going there to discuss the issue.
–IANS
SG/UK