Keralam Minister for Higher Education Roji M. John on Monday (August 17, 2026) criticised University of Kerala Vice-Chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal for participating in an event organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Thiruvananthapuram on August 15, 2026 while pointing out that it was “unbecoming of his stature.”

“There had been instances during the previous Left front government when Vice-Chancellors had attended events organised by the RSS and it is continuing. This cannot be accepted as they have to show the propriety to stay away from such political events considering the stature of the office they are holding,” Mr. John told mediapersons in Kochi.

The Minister was responding to queries on the remark by Mr. Kunnummal at the event that that those opposing singing of Vande Mataram “did not know who their mother was.” He later clarified that his reference to ‘mother’ was part of a long speech and that he had referred to the motherland.

Mr. John alleged that Mr. Kunnummal was appointed as Vice-Chancellor as “part of a 1:1 deal” worked out by the Left government with the [then] Governor. “The previous Left government is responsible for him occupying the seat of the Vice-Chancellor. As part of the deal, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of University of Kerala and a nominee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was appointed at the helm of another university,” he alleged.

On the death of a 20-year-old B. Tech student from Arunachal Pradesh at Mar Athanasius College of Engineering (MACE) in Kothamangalam, the Minister said the college management has agreed to abide by the decision taken by the A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) to do away with the ‘year back’ system that reportedly mandated that only students who score 22 credits in Semester 4 are allowed to proceed to the next semester.

He said the United Democratic Front government had requested the re-constituted Syndicate of KTU to discontinue the system based on the concerns raised by the students. The Minister said the government would make necessary arrangements to send the student’s body to his hometown.

The post-mortem examination was conducted at the Government Medical College, Ernakulam in the presence of his family members on Monday morning.

On reports that Kannur University had denied permission for the Student Federation of India’s ‘She Fest’ featuring its All-India joint secretary Aishe Ghosh as the chief guest, the Minister said the organisers had not submitted the required application before the authorities to conduct the event.

“The permission was not denied based on who was attending the event, but on whether the organisers had adhered to the rules prescribed,” he said.