Kerala Governor criticizes SFI banner at university

Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has expressed his disapproval of a banner displayed by the Students Federation of India (SFI) at the University of Calicut. The banner, which was erected during protests against the former Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, read, "We need a Chancellor and not Savarkar." Governor Arlekar attended a Senate meeting at the university on March 22, 2025, where he addressed the issue. He questioned the portrayal of Vinayak Savarkar, stating that Savarkar had always prioritized the nation over his personal life. Arlekar said his comments were prompted by the banner, even though he had not planned to discuss Savarkar at the meeting. The Governor urged Vice-Chancellor P. Raveendran to manage such political displays, emphasizing that the educational system should remain free of politicization. There are reports that the Vice-Chancellor had already instructed the removal of similar banners and posters, but SFI activists resisted these efforts.