On Monday, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan paid a surprise visit to the district’s busiest street, interacting freely with people while keeping the security away. The Governor wanted to prove a point amid straining relationship between Raj Bhavan and the government that the protests by SFI is CM-sponsored and that he is well-received by the people of Kerala.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan Interacts with the people in SM Street, Kozhikode Source: X
Kozhikode: Amid mass protests by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Monday embraced the bustling SM Street where he interacted with people, creating his version of “Navakerala Sadassu”. The Governor had been staying in Calicut University Guest House to take part in a programme organised by the university. The tension between the government and the Governor continue to escalate.
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The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) protests against Mr. Khan’s alleged encroachment on federalism and attempts to influence the State’s higher education sector gained momentum and became increasingly aggressive throughout the State. Both leaders adopted an aggressive approach, occasionally crossing personal boundaries. Mr. Vijayan stated in Kollam that the government would seek the intervention of the Prime Minister and President to “control Mr. Khan’s actions that disrupt the State’s peaceful environment by inciting students.” He accused Mr. Khan of using harsh language to defame students and tarnish the image of Kerala, particularly Kannur.
Kerala Governor Responds
Mr. Khan’s response was to reject police security and make an unannounced visit to the famous S.M. Street in Kozhikode, seemingly challenging the SFI. Television screens displayed Mr. Khan interacting with people on the street while aggressive SFI protests took place in colleges across the State, revealing the entire situation and reflecting the political atmosphere.
Source: X
Before his bold move, Mr. Khan informed reporters in Malappuram that he would not be silenced by the “intimidating tactics of the person responsible for a series of political murders in Kannur.” He stated that Mr. Vijayan had only recently restrained the SFI. “The Chief Minister knows the consequences if they lay a hand on me,” Mr. Khan asserted.
A somewhat ominous statement from Raj Bhavan, which held Mr. Vijayan accountable for the SFI protests and portrayed them as the beginning of the breakdown of the State’s constitutional machinery, sparked the intense standoff. There are few indications that a resolution will be reached anytime soon. The CPI(M) expressed their disapproval of the “threatening communique” and demanded the recall of the Governor.
K. Surendran, the BJP State president, stated that party workers would protect Mr Khan from the CPI(M)‘s attempt to ambush the Governor. V. D. Satheesan, the Leader of the Opposition, claimed that Mr Vijayan and Mr Khan were engaging in a mere shadowboxing to divert public attention from the failures of the State and Central governments, respectively.
CM vs Governor
Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has subtly indicated that he intends to play an active role in the affairs of state universities following the Supreme Court’s decision to invalidate the reappointment of the Kannur University Vice-Chancellor. Governor Khan addressed the press at the University of Calicut, where he stayed from Saturday to Monday evening. He emphasized that the recent Supreme Court ruling has clarified that university matters fall within the jurisdiction of the Chancellor.
In a message directed at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, he urged against meddling in university affairs and assured that he himself is not interfering in their affairs. The Governor, as the ex-officio Chancellor of all state universities, was specifically referring to the Supreme Court’s November 30 judgment, which invalidated the reappointment of Prof Gopinath Ravindran as the Vice Chancellor of Kannur University due to unwarranted political interference from the state government.
Khan accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of orchestrating the protest at the University of Kerala and financing it. He further claimed that the Chief Minister and the government were exploiting and taking advantage of the universities. According to him, the recent Supreme Court ruling has resulted in the loss of control over the universities, leading them to resort to sending criminals to intimidate him.
