SFI behind drug menace in Kerala campuses, Congress alleges

Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday alleged that the Students' Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala, is mainly responsible for the widespread distribution and consumption of drugs in colleges and hostels across the state. He accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of "encouraging" them and demanded the disbanding of the organisation, PTI reported.

The Congress's sharp reaction came in the wake of police seizing two kilograms of ganja from the men's hostel of a Government Polytechnic College in Kalamassery, Kochi, on Thursday night and arresting two students.

The CPI(M) strongly rejected the charges, stating that there is an agenda to eliminate the SFI.

The incident triggered a blame game among student outfit leaders, including those from the Kerala Students' Union (KSU) and the SFI, over the alleged involvement of their activists in the crime.

The Congress leadership has alleged that SFI leaders were involved in the ganja seizure case and that the left-wing student outfit plays a key role in the spread of drugs across campuses.

Speaking to reporters, former minister Ramesh Chennithala said, "SFI is mainly responsible for the widespread drug consumption in Kerala. SFI, which is widely using and distributing drugs in colleges and hostels across the state, should be disbanded. CM Vijayan is giving them full encouragement." Chennithala questioned why Vijayan, who has ruled Kerala for the past nine years, has "failed" to control the drug mafia.

Lauding the police for their raid at the college hostel in Kalamassery, he stated that if similar stringent measures were implemented across the state, the drug mafia could be completely eradicated.

Targeting the CM, the Congress leader accused Vijayan of "failing to eliminate" the drug menace from the state.