In a recent incident at KMCT law college campus in Kuttippuram, Malappuram, Kerala BJP candidate Nivedida Subramanian was barred from entering by members of of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and Muslim Students Federation (MSF). The incident occurred during Nivedida’s campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.
According to reports, Subramanian was interacting with students on one side of the campus when she attempted to move to the other and was obstructed by SFI and MSF students who staged a protest. Despite her attempts to reason with them, she was unable to proceed and eventually left at the request of campus authorities.
The incident, captured in a viral video on social media, depicts SFI and MSF members clad in white clothing, outnumbering her. The presence of some demonstrators in burqas has also been noted, prompting criticism from netizens for what they perceive as an act of intimidation.
🔸Students of Kerala's KMCT Law College stopped and threatened BJP candidate Nivedida Subramanian
– Mallapuram has 75% peacefuls pic.twitter.com/GQU02Fv6jW
— Kreately.in (@KreatelyMedia) April 5, 2024
In response to the incident, Nivedida took to social media platform X to denounce it, asserting her party’s resilience. She wrote, “Don’t need threats and nothing, this party is different… “
ഭീഷണിയും ഒന്നും വേണ്ട മക്കളെഇത് പാർട്ടി വേറെയാണ്… #Nivedida4Ponnani #ModiKiGuarantee #PhirEkBaarModiSarkar pic.twitter.com/q6UPWYxUql
— Adv Nivedida (Modi Ka Parivaar) (@AdvNivedida) April 4, 2024
The BJP has alleged a larger conspiracy behind the incident, citing a similar occurrence in Kollam where SFI students blocked NDA candidate G Krishnakumar. Despite these protests, Krishnakumar was able to address the audience.
The incident has reignited debates surrounding the activities of SFI and MSF, with the former being accused of fostering a climate of intimidation and violence, particularly in West Bengal and Kerala. MSF, as the student wing of IUML, a political organization associated with the Congress in Kerala, has also faced scrutiny.
Nivedida Subramanian entered her first electoral contest at the age of 45 in 2016 in Guruvayur. She is BJP’s candidate for Ponnani, a Muslim League stronghold, and aims to make BJP’s presence felt in Kerala. State President of BJP’s Mahila Morcha, she gained visibility for organising PM Modi’s Sthree Shakti meet in Thrissur and was also seen standing next to Modi during the Thrissur road show. Subramanian’s political journey began at age three, when she accompanied her mother, Radha Balakrishnan, and was jailed during the Emergency. Her mother served as the state president of Mahila Morcha.
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