TG Mohan’s remark have triggered demands for criminal action.
NEW DELHI: Right-wing political commentator TG Mohandas has come under fire after the pro-CPI Left student outfit All India Students’ Federation (AISF) accused him of calling for student protesters to be “shot dead” during the recent agitation in Delhi over the alleged NEET question paper leak.The remarks have triggered demands for criminal action, with the AISF submitting a complaint to the Kerala state police chief, alleging that Mohandas’ comments amounted to incitement to violence and posed a threat to public order.According to the student organisation, the remarks were made during an appearance on a YouTube channel while discussing the student protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.In its complaint, the AISF argued that Mohandas’ statements went far beyond political criticism and instead encouraged the use of violence against peaceful protesters. The organisation said publicly advocating that state forces open fire on students could lead to deaths, grievous injuries and widespread fear, while undermining constitutional values and the democratic right to protest.The outfit further claimed that the remarks, having been circulated on digital platforms, had the potential to spread rapidly, encourage violent behaviour and disturb public order if left unaddressed. The AISF urged the police to examine the complete video and audio recordings, verify the authenticity of the alleged remarks and investigate whether they constituted offences related to incitement to violence and threats to public peace. It also sought the registration of a criminal case against Mohandas under all applicable legal provisions and called for an inquiry into the YouTube channel that carried the video, its source and its circulation across social media platforms.In a separate statement, the student organisation alleged that Mohandas’ comments reflected an ideology that rejected constitutional values, democratic rights and the principles of Kerala’s social reform movement. It further claimed that the remarks attempted to justify violence against peaceful protesters while portraying thousands of students in a negative light.The controversy also drew a sharp reaction from former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who condemned the alleged remarks and demanded immediate legal action against Mohandas.Without naming anyone directly, Vijayan also criticised a BJP MP from Telangana for allegedly calling for students protesting over the NEET paper leak to be shot. In a Facebook post, he said such statements reflected a mindset that sought to eliminate dissent rather than engage with it democratically.Vijayan further questioned why the Kerala Police had not acted against Mohandas despite registering cases against people who had staged peaceful solidarity protests in the state during the student agitation in Delhi.He also accused the UDF government of turning the police and legal system into passive spectators to appease the RSS. Vijayan demanded that cases registered against peaceful protesters be withdrawn immediately and urged the state government to initiate legal proceedings against Mohandas without delay over the alleged incitement to violence.
