Mallapuram, December 29: Jamia Millia Islamia student Aysha Renna, who emerged at the forefront of anti-CAA protests at the varsity in Delhi, drew flak from the Kerala-ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Saturday. The student leader, while addressing a public gathering in Malappuram, condemned Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for the arrest of anti-CAA protesters in the state. Kerala Halts NPR Updation Exercise Amid Anti-CAA Stir, Becomes 2nd State to Stay Process After West Bengal.

Renna's criticism of Vijayan irked the workers of CPI(M and its youth wing - Democratic Youth Front of India (DYFI) - who heckled her and protested against her remarks. The party cadres demanded her to apologise for criticising Vijayan, despite the CM opposing the Centre's CAA-NRC project.

"In last two weeks, a number of students from Jamia Millia Islamia have been arrested and jailed by the Pinarayi Vijayan government and his police. We demand their immediate release," she said.

Renna's remarks were aimed at the police crackdown on protesters in Malappuram region who have launched an agitation under the aegis of controversial Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) -- which is accused of being a radical organisation. The Congress, CPI(M) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) had asked its workers to not join the agitation called by the SDPI.

Watch CPI(M) Workers Heckling Renna For Condemning Vijayan

Renna, while responding to the agitated crowd of CPI(M) workers, said her remarks were her "own opinion". To this, the mob retaliated by asking, "What kind of opinion is this?" The protesters pointed out to her that Vijayan has been leading the agitation in Thiruvananthapuram and even joined hands with the Opposition alliance of Congress-IUML.

 

Before stoking the controversy, Renna told the gathering that Kerala need a political alternative based on the alliance of Muslims and Dalits. "We are going to witness emergence of minority or the Muslim bahujan politics. We want Chandrashekhar Azad (Bhim Army Chief) to be released immediately," she said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 29, 2019 03:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).