Congress Calls for Disbanding of SFI, Accuses Kerala CM of Enabling Drug Menace

Kerala senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has accused the Students’ Federation of India (SFI)—the student wing of the ruling CPI(M)—of being at the center of drug distribution in Kerala’s colleges and hostels. Chennithala also alleged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is “encouraging” the SFI’s activities and called for its disbanding due to its alleged involvement in the drug trade.

The accusations come after a police raid at a Government Polytechnic College hostel in Kalamassery, Kochi, where two kilograms of ganja were seized, leading to the arrest of two students. The incident has triggered a blame game between rival student organizations, with the Congress-affiliated Kerala Students Union (KSU) and the SFI accusing each other of links to the drug trade.

Congress MLA Participates In Drug-Free Campaign

Chennithala, a former Home Minister of Kerala, took aim at the ruling party while addressing the media. “SFI is mainly responsible for the widespread drug consumption in Kerala. SFI which is widely using and distributing drugs in colleges and hostels in the state, should be disbanded. CM Vijayan is giving them all encouragement,” he alleged, as per a report on PTI. He further questioned why Vijayan, despite being in power for nine years, has failed to curb the state’s rising drug problem.

While appreciating the police action in Kalamassery, Chennithala insisted that similar crackdowns should be conducted statewide to root out the menace. He also accused the Chief Minister of deliberately ignoring the drug mafia’s operations due to his alleged support for the SFI.

#WATCH | Thrissur, Kerala | Congress MLA Ramesh Chennithala says, “The state government is sleeping on the issue of drugs. I wonder why it is giving political patronage to Drug mafia in the state and not eradicating it… Such a progressive state of Kerala is witnessing killings… https://t.co/JE82AawL3C pic.twitter.com/HOEA4jKxtv

— ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2025

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CPI(M) Hits Back

Reacting to the allegations, CPI(M) leader and PWD Minister PA Mohammed Riyas dismissed Chennithala’s statements as “baseless and politically motivated.” He accused the opposition of running an agenda to tarnish the image of the SFI, calling the demand to disband it an old political tactic.

“No progressive student organization should be labeled as a ‘wholesale dealer’ of drugs,” Riyas countered, as per the agency report.