Arif Mohammed Khan was appointed the Governor of Kerala in 2019.
New Delhi:
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Wednesday reiterated claims of “nexus” between the ruling CPIM – the Students Federation of India, its student wing – and the Popular Front of India, banned under the anti-terrorism law by the Union Home Ministry. UAPA.
Speaking to NDTV, Mr Khan launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s administration and uttered what is now a common phrase in the southern state – “During the day they (Kerala government) are with the SFI and, at night, Work for PFI”.
“I have proof (of his claims of SFI-PFI “collusion”) that I have heard from the people of Kerala. Now I can’t tell you the exact names… but (central) agencies have this information,” the Governor – who are at loggerheads with the state over various issues including appointments in state-run universities – said.
Read | “Chief Minister used me”: Kerala Governor after court verdict
Mr Khan specifically referred to the arrests that followed clashes with student activists in Kerala’s Kollam district last month, when he stopped his convoy, got out of his car and challenged SFI activists standing on the roadside, saying – ‘Come come)’. Holding black flags.
“Government agencies are aware… See, almost half of the 15 people arrested have been found to be active PFI volunteers, and this is nothing new. In fact, allegations have been made in the Assembly, not recently, That PFI is being used by the political establishment.”
People in Kerala “commonly talk about it… it is known”, Mr Khan asserted.
The Governor also accused him of organizing protests against him in the state, including the incident in Kollam district. “I don’t know whether those holding black flags in the demonstrations are actually students… because you can see they are very old…”
“They are people brought in by the ruling party… and this is being conducted now after the Supreme Court judgment in the Kannur University case. They are losing control over the universities… They have no possibility of making appointments as per their wish. It is not visible. They are upset…” he said.
The Students’ Federation of India has been protesting against the Governor for the past several days, alleging that he used his authority as ex-officio Chancellor of the respective institutions to appoint “BJP-RSS candidates” to various universities in the state. Have pushed.
On Tuesday, the Governor described the protests as a “joint venture of SFI and PFI”. “The SFI has recruited PFI volunteers and he (Chief Minister Vijayan) is sacrificing the youth,” Mr Khan said, declaring that he would not be afraid of “animals”.
Read | “Not afraid”: Kerala Governor on student group’s protest
Following that protest, the Center has increased Mr Khan’s security to ‘Z’ category status.
Read | Kerala Governor given Z+ security after clash with student activists
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has criticized Mr Khan for instigating the confrontation in Kollam and said the Governor should not have breached the security cordon by coming out of his car.
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