Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Saturday sat on a dharna at a roadside shop demanding the arrest of Students Federation of India (SFI) activists who protested against him in Nilamel in Kollam district.
Arif Mohammed Khan, Governor Kerala got out of his vehicle and took a chair from the shop on the busy MC Road in Nilamel, Kollam district. He sat demanding action against the protesters. Dramatic visuals aired on news channels and social media platform as video also gone viral showed a visibly angry Khan talking tough to the police personnel. Besides police officials, Khan’s officials and local people gathered in large numbers at the spot.
“I will not leave from here. Police is giving them protection, ” says Governor Arif Mohammed Khan after Students Federation of India activists held a protest against him in Kollam.
Governor vs SFI Activist
Several activists of the ruling CPI(M)’s students’ wing SFI staged a black flag protest against the Governor when he was on his way to nearby Kottarakkara for a function, as reported by news agency PTI.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has been given Z+ security by Centre after a faceoff with student activists. Earlier, Governor Khan confronted members of the CPI(M)-linked Students Federation of India (SFI) in Kollam district, about 40 km from state capital Thiruvananthapuram, as they present there for a black flag protest against him.
Governor’s received Z+
“Union Home Ministry has informed Kerala Raj Bhavan that Z+ Security cover of CRPF is being extended to Hon’ble Governor and Kerala Raj Bhavan,” a social media post from the Governor’s office.
Stepping out of his car, Governor Khan walked towards the protesting students, shouting “aao-aao” (come) at them. The Governor has accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of “promoting lawlessness in the state” and demanded action against the protestors.
The Governor’s actions continued for two-hour standoff at roadside, during which he sat on the chair , expressing his dissatisfaction with the response of the authorities and against political executive of state.
Governor vs Police
Governor Arif Mohammad Khan claimed that he had not staged a protest but was waiting for the police to provide, a copy of the First Information Report (FIR) following his demand for action against the SFI activists affiliated with the CPI(M).
The police eventually presented a copy of an FIR against 17 SFI activists under non-bailable provisions, which led to the Governor leaving the scene.
What happened ?
There was a huge ruckus in Kerala yesterday between Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and the agitating students of SFI.The Governor was going anywhere for his program from Raj Bhavan when 17 to 20 student agitators of SFI gathered there and protested by showing black flags to the Governor’s convoy.
If we talk about the beginning of this controversy in Kerala, then its seeds were sown from the day the Governor expressed strong condemnation in the selection of Vice Chancellors in the universities there and termed it as illegal.
Row this side, the Kerala Government and the students’ union putting this allegation on Arif Mohammad Khan, that he is selecting people from RSS and Sangh for the post of VC in universities.
Controversy Begins
The controversy starts when the Governor of Kerala goes to attend some program in his convoy. Meanwhile, the agitators of the student wing of SFI oppose him there with a black flag, the Governor comes out of the car and challenges them.
Kerala Police on the spot also protects the Governor and stops the students from agitating there.
While presenting his views to press, Arif Mohammad Khan said that there were 17 to 20 people who had come there with the intention of attacking him.
He also accuses Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and says, “If the Chief Minister’s convoy had to go through this road, would so many people have gathered?” How did this happen?
In his Z Plus security given by the Centre, he says that he has not asked for it himself, giving examples from his past he says that in 1989, when he was attacked.
Later he said bluntly “If I was not afraid when I was 35, why will I be afraid now when I am 72?”
