"Anti-fascist" debate conducted defying university ban

Challenging a university ban, research students at Sreesankara University here today organised an 'anti-fascist debate' which was attended by students, teachers and non-teaching staff of the institution in large numbers.
University Registrar had denied permission to the Research Students Association (RSA) to hold the debate on "Indian Fascism: New Forms and Resistance" at the campus, claiming that it will create tension in the institution named after sage-philosopher Adi Sankaracharya.
Renowned literary critic and faculty at Malayalam department at the University Sunil P Iledam and noted poet Kureepuzha Sreekumar were main speakers at the meet held in the University campus this afternoon.

"It was a peaceful event. Students, teachers and non-teaching staff of the University came out in large numbers to attend the programme which got a national attention through the ban," said a student who attended the programme.
Student outfits in the campus, barring ABVP, extended their support to organise the event.
A large number of police were present near the Campus but did not intervene, despite University ban.

Denying permission, T P Ravindran, Registrar of the university, had said it was done only to avoid any kind of 'turbulent' situation on the campus.
Meanwhile, activists of Students Federation of India (SFI) today served beef to students outside Baselius College in Kottayam to protest against the lynching of a man in Uttar Pradesh's Dadri over rumours of eating beef.

Various student outfits at Law College and Maharajas College in Ernakulam organised beef festival to protest against Dadri killing.