'Will protest in other districts if seat issue not resolved'

KOZHIKODE: MSF and KSU continued their protest over the shortage of Plus One seats in Malabar on Friday even as the former announced that it will extend the stir to other districts next week and waylay the education minister if immediate steps are not taken to resolve the issue. Thousands of students are yet to get admissions in Malabar after three rounds of seat allotment.
MSF activists staged a blockade at the office of RDD (regional deputy director) of education in Kozhikode and Malappuram on Friday while KSU activists staged a protest march to the office of the commissioner in Kozhikode and observed an education bandh in the district.
In Kozhikode, MSF activists dodged the police, jumped over the compound wall and tried to enter the RDD office. Police blocked them and this led to clashes after which protesters staged a sit-in before the office. Police later arrested and removed them. MSF activists also staged a protest march to the RDD office in Malappuram. Though a large posse of police was deployed in front of the office, a couple of protesters led by district president Kabeer Puthuparamba managed to enter the office. They were arrested and forcibly removed.
KSU activists staged a protest march to the office of the commissioner to protest against the police lathicharge against its activists during the collectorate march on Thursday.
Have requested new batches: SFI
Meanwhile, SFI national president VP Sanu said there is a shortage of Plus One seats in Malabar and Malappuram in particular. He added that SFI has raised a demand to allot new batches and resolve the problem. Minister V Sivankutty had taken a stand that there was no need for new batches and all students eligible for higher education will be given admission. "The minister has assured us that the issue will be resolved. We hope that govt will address the issue after collecting details on the number of students who have not got admissions at the taluk level," he said.
Responding to a question, Sanu said that SFI will stage protests if the assurances provided now are violated.