As Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan’s tussle with the State government worsens with each passing day, the governor, who is taking head-on the challenge from CPI(M)-affiliated SFI, upped the ante by visiting the busy SM Street in Kozhikode, popularly known as ‘Mittayi Theruvu’ on Monday. The governor’s visit and interaction with commoners in the busy commercial street is perceived as Khan taking a dig at the Kerala government’s ongoing outreach programme ‘Navakerala sadas’.
The fight is ugly and it has become a direct one between the chief minister and the governor. Talking to presspersons on the sidelines of ‘Navakerala sadas’ on Monday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan lashed out at Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, accusing him of trying to destroy peace in the state. “He (Khan) has reached such a state that he is saying whatever comes to his mind, quite often forgetting that he is the governor of Kerala. He tries to create the maximum possible provocation on every issue,” said the CM. On Sunday, Calicut University witnessed dramatic scenes after the governor directed the police to remove banners put up against him on the campus by the Students Federation of India—the students organisation of CPI(M).
Last week, SFI declared they wouldn't allow the governor to enter any universities in Kerala. In response, the governor decided to stay at the Calicut Varsity campus from December 16 to December 18, challenging this declaration. He had previously confronted black flag-waving SFI protestors and challenged them to block his car.
Though it was SFI at the forefront, Khan directed his attack against the CM. “The defamatory posters and banners were placed at the direction of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan”, he said. The governor also dubbed the incident as “the beginning of the collapse of the constitutional machinery in the state”. Incidentally, SFI has put back the banners, and came up with more personal attacks on the governor when they painted the campus road the following message: “Don’t spit Hans and Pan Parag Here”, with a banner which says “Mister Chancellor This is Kerala”.
Though SFI is protesting primarily against the governor’s alleged unilateral decision to nominate four “RSS-affiliated” students to the Kerala University Senate, it is apparent that SFI is backed by the CPI(M) leadership and CM Vijayan, who is in a fight with Raj Bhavan over a slew of issues including the bills the governor did not sign. Yesterday, CM Vijayan even said that Khan simply approved the names in the list given by the RSS for appointments in universities, while adding it was only natural that this action invited protests from students.
Today morning, Khan told the media that now he does not want any police protection. “If you remove the Police from here, I assure you the first person who will give instructions to SFI not to come near me will be the chief minister because he knows the consequences,” said the governor. “I feel no threat from the people of Kerala,” he said.
The 72-year-old Khan added that he will go to the market and if somebody wants to do anything nasty they are welcome to do it. “I have already said I am living on borrowed time. I am over 70. I have already completed the national average [age],” he said.”
The governor also praised Kerala Police as “one of the finest police forces in the country”. “However, the problem is that police is not being allowed to discharge their duties,” he said. “I will give you the example from Trivandrum. I was attacked at three places [while en route to Thiruvananthapuram airport]. But the police have taken action only at the third place where I got down from the car. (At) Other two places they tried to dilute [the matter]. So it is not the fault of any policeman. If the [defaming] banners were here, [it is] because of the instructions of the [CM].”
Directing his full attack towards the CM, governor also made a sensitive comment that the CM was responsible for instigating violence in Kannur district. “He [The CM] thought the way he was able to frighten people in Kannur, he will be able to frighten me. I am not going to be frightened,” he said.
The governor also added that now SFI and CM are up in arms against him because they had the realisation that “now after the judgment of the Supreme Court, they realize that they cannot control and run the university”. “My job is to ensure the autonomy of the university, not to run it,” he added.
A seminar at Calicut University, at 3.30pm, was the only scheduled programme for the governor today. Visiting Mittayi Theruvu, Governor Khan posed for selfies with locals and students. He spent almost 45 minutes in SM Street and visited multiple shops including a jewellery and even tasted a halwa. Though the governor said he did not want any police protection, the police commissioner and a sizeable group of policemen accompanied him during the visit.
While a seminar at Calicut University was the only scheduled programme for the governor today, with this unplanned leisure walk to the most bustling market in Calicut, Khan is clearly trying to prove that he is not a threat to the peaceful situation in Kerala. Nevertheless, Kozhikode city is on high alert as the Pinarayi government acknowledges the potential disastrous consequences if there were any physical attacks on the constitutional head of the state.
Meanwhile, the CPI(M) Polit Bureau condemned Governor Khan's actions. Discussions are also on whether the governor visited SM Street violating protocols.
