Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan demands withdrawal of cases in State against student protesters

Published 28 July 2026 · politics

Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan has written to Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan demanding the unconditional withdrawal of all cases filed in Kerala

Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan has written to Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan demanding the unconditional withdrawal of all cases filed in Kerala against those who took to the streets to express solidarity with the Jantar Mantar student agitation. The office of the Chief Minister has informed that the Leader of the Opposition’s letter has been forwarded to the Home department for further action. Large sections of society, including students, the youth, socio-cultural activists and the wider public had come out in solidarity with the agitation against the Union government. In his letter, Mr. Vijayan said that the historic agitation carried out nationwide by students and youth against the Union government over the NEET examination question paper leak was one that won the support of the entire conscience of the nation.

Kerala too had stood together in extending support to the students and being part of the agitation. When the agitation ended, the Union government, along with the other demands of students, had agreed to withdraw the cases against the students who had participated in the protest. It was also promised that they would not be harassed further in the name of the agitation. Vijayan pointed out that police cases have been registered in several districts of Kerala against those who protested in solidarity with the student movement at Jantar Mantar and that it is the State government’s responsibility to withdraw these cases. He pointed out that in Kerala also, the police had resorted to cane charging and water cannons to disperse those who took part in the protests, following which cases were charged against them, which was quite “undemocratic.” ‘Inappropriate’ While the Chief Minister himself was seen joining the protests at Jantar Mantar, alongside the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, it is inappropriate that the very government he leads in Kerala has charge-sheeted many who agitated in Kerala to support the students, Mr. Vijayan said.

He also pointed out that there are complaints that false cases were being foisted on many who took part in peaceful protests and said that the case registered against Malayali rap singer Vedan who participated in a peaceful rally in Ernakulam is a case in point. Reports indicate that the Kerala

Police have booked cases against nearly 5,000 people across various parts of the State for participating in these protests. As the Union government has agreed to withdraw all cases against students, the United Democratic Front (UDF) government should not delay in withdrawing the cases filed by the Kerala Police, Mr. Vijayan said.