Tension erupted outside the Kerala Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday as members of the Students Federation of India (SFI) staged a massive protest against fee hikes in institutions run by the Co-operative Academy of Professional Education (CAPE) and the Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD).
And the demonstration turned confrontational as hundreds of student activists marched toward the Secretariat and tried to cross police barricades. Security personnel then launched water cannons to disperse the crowd and prevent protesters from getting in the high-security zone.
Why Are Students Protesting?
The SFI, one of Kerala's largest student organizations, has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the revised fee structure introduced in CAPE and IHRD colleges.
Protesters say higher fees will increase the financial burden of students and their families at a time when affordability of higher education is a big problem for them.
Student leaders accused the state government of pursuing policies which hurt the least advantaged students while providing financial relief to liquor companies.
Water Cannons Used as Protest Escalates
The protest was beginning with a march to the Kerala Secretariat, which is the state government’s administrative headquarters. Police intervened as the demonstrators gathered near the barricaded area.
People described tense scenes as protesters pushed against security barriers and authorities used water cannons to disperse the crowd. The action stopped the march for a little while, though, but protesters continued to chant at the government’s decision.
This video is from Thiruvananthapuram.
— Mr Sinha (@Mrsinha) June 24, 2026
Kerala Police is giving the treatment to SFI "activists" for protesting against a fee hike in some colleges.
I've no issue with the police, SFI deserves the worst. But doesn't this expose the hypocrisy of Pappu & Co.?
Imagine if a BJP-ruled… pic.twitter.com/dNgK2Pnen2
Political Contradictions Come Into Focus
The protest has also triggered political debate because of the unique dynamics involved.
The SFI is the student wing of CPI(M) while the Kerala government is now being run by Congress-backed UDF alliance. As a result, the agitation has put two major opposition forces at the national level on opposite sides of the issue in the state.
Political observers noted that student protests are often the basis of much larger discussions about governance, policing, and education policy of the nation. The current debate has also illustrated how political parties can be in favor or against student movements depending on whether they are in power or opposition.
Education Costs at the Centre of Debate
At the heart of the matter is the affordability of higher education. Students say that fee hikes in CAPE and IHRD institutions could make professional education more difficult for many families.
The government has not yet said if it will review the new fee structure, but the SFI has said it will continue to agitate for the change until the decision is overturned.
And with emotions high and student groups promising more protests in the coming weeks, the issue is likely to remain a major political and educational flashpoint in Kerala.
