Thiruvananthapuram: The use of "objectionable and foul language" against Prime Minister Narendra Modi,along with the depiction of his photograph in the list of negative faces along with Osama bin Laden, Hitler, Ajmal Kasab were featured in the college magazines of two colleges in Trissur, Kerala.
The police have arrested 15 students and principal of one of the colleges in both the cases. All of them were let off on bail.
Modi's photograph was featured in the list of negative faces in the college magazine of government polytechnic, Kunnumkulam. While the Magazine of Sree Krishna College at Guruvayoor had 10 questions in the crossword section; the language was objectionable and unsavoury. It was not just against Prime Minister Modi, but also against Rahul Gandhi and chief minister of Kerala Oommen Chandy. The principal of Sree Krishna College maintained that he was unaware of the contents as the students published it without being proof read by him. The ABVP, which is a student organization affiliated to the RSS held protests to condemn the incident.
In both incidents the college unions that brought out the magazine were controlled by the SFI (Students Federation of India), the student wing of CPI (M). The BJP leaders said that this is not a personal issue of the BJP, but of the country as its prime minister is insulted.
VV Rajesh, BJP Spokesperson said "It is unconstitutional and an offence against the country. It is the primary duty of the state government to take appropriate action SFI State leadership is either hijacked by terrorist organisations or they are considering PM in the cluster of terrorists and they are against people's mandate".
The SFI maintains that the magazines were published in February and March, before Modi became the Prime Minister of India. They state that the BJP is raking up an old issue for political gains. The SFI maintained that the Students have the right to protest and in a democracy even the Prime Minister's are criticised.
Shiju Khan, State President SFI said "this magazine was published much before Narendra modi became the prime Minister. The lack of freedom of speech and expression are signs of anarchy and dictatorship. The cases against these students have to be withdrawn immediately".
The cases were registered under different sections of the IPC including intention to create riots, punishment for defamation and printing matter known to be defamatory. The BJP leaders refuted the allegations stating that they have proof that the magazine was published after Narendra Modi was the Prime Minister.
VV Rajesh said "We are waiting to see what the Kerala government is doing, if they are neglecting this issue then we will take this up politically".
The larger issue is whether the BJP is trying to get political mileage from this or not. The major issue is how far we can go in the name of freedom of speech and expression and who controls the use of such language.
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