Congress General Secretary, Organisation, K.C. Venugopal, criticized three Kerala Vice Chancellors for attending an RSS centenary-related program, calling for their immediate resignation. The Vice Chancellors from Kerala University, Mahatma Gandhi University, and Malayalam University participated in a lecture series organized as part of the RSS centenary celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram.
Venugopal condemned their presence at the event, stating it goes against the secular and democratic values of the state’s higher education system. He emphasized that individuals with RSS ideology should not lead educational institutions and must uphold constitutional values and academic integrity.
The Congress leader urged the Vice Chancellors to step down, suggesting that if they support RSS ideology, they should join RSS camps instead of holding academic positions. Venugopal stressed that university heads should prioritize academic credentials, secularism, democratic principles, and loyalty to the Constitution over ideological affiliations.
The controversy has sparked a political debate in Kerala regarding the involvement of senior academic figures in ideological platforms. Opposition parties and ruling fronts have engaged in sharp exchanges over institutional neutrality and academic freedom, with differing opinions on the Vice Chancellors’ attendance at the RSS event.
