Media has a big hand in causing student violence

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The discussion on ‘Student politics’ organised by Gandhi Youth Forum on Thursday, attended by the State leaders of various students organisations, commented that media was responsible to a large extent for the violence during student agitations. A peaceful  protest march by the SFI involving more than 5,000 students was pushed to the back  pages of newspapers. At the same time, a protest march of less than 500 students which turned violent was placed on page one, observed SFI State vice-president A A Rahim.   KSU State commitee member Arun Raj and ABVP state vice-president G M Mahesh criticised the media and the police for forcing protestors to turn violent. Media and police are creating a situation where violent protests alone are covered, they said.  The lone comment which differed from  others came from AIDSO State vice-president Shanthiraj. He said that certain political parties are purposefully using students to instigate violence and such acts cannot be viewed as political activism. Earlier, in her inaugural speech,Women’s Commission Chairperson Justice D Sreedevi expressed concern at the rapid rise in violence amongst youth. She called for an investigation into whether the students’ organisations have any hand in the trend.  Gandhi Smarak Nidhi Chairman Dr N Radhakrishnan, KU Gandhian Study Centre co-ordinator J A Raheem and Eyyacheri Kunji Krishnan Master participated in the programme.