Last Updated: December 11, 2023, 22:47 IST
Thiruvananthapuram [Trivandrum], India
Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan. (Image: PTI/File)
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan’s vehicle was allegedly hit by activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the CPI(M), while he was on his way to the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to leave for Delhi
Tension between Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan escalated on Monday after the former accused the the Marxist veteran of ‘conspiring’ to hurt him physically.
Khan’s explosive allegation comes after his vehicle was allegedly hit by activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the CPI(M), while he was on his way to the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to leave for Delhi.
After the attack, a visibly furious Khan got out of his car and told the media that it was CM Vijayan who ‘conspired’ to send people to hurt him physically. He also went on to say that the constitutional machinery appeared to be collapsing in the state.
“They (the attackers) are hitting the glasses. They are hitting my car,” Khan told reporters. Upon being asked about his security, he said, “What security? What can police do when the chief minister of the state is himself a part of this conspiracy.”
“I can’t allow criminals to rule the state,” the Governor further said.
The incident took place in Thiruvananthapuram when the Kerala Governor was on his way to catch a flight to Delhi. According to Khan, some people came in cars, hit his vehicle and fled when he stepped out to question them.
Responding to the incident, Opposition leader VD Satheesan dared the chief minister to register a case for an attempt on life against SFI leaders over the alleged attack against the Governor.
The KPCC leader K Sudhakaran, on the other hand, called it a black day and alleged that the law and order in the state has failed.
Governor Khan has been facing protests from SFI over the senates of universities. Last month, Khan had accused CM Vijayan of pressuring him to reappoint Gopinath Ravindran as the vice chancellor (VC) of Kannur University.
“It is wrong to blame the Education Minister (who) was used by the Chief Minister. It was not the minister who came to my office but an individual who claimed to be the Chief Minister’s legal advisor,” Khan said, according to NDTV.
(With PTI inputs)
