Thiruvananthapuram, September 18 (BPNS)
In an extraordinary move, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan convened a press meet at his official residence, Kerala Raj Bhavan, on Monday. The press meet has come at a time when the war of words between the Governor and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan worsens.
As per sources, the Governor is expected to reveal the details of the security breach that occurred to him during the 80th session of the Indian History Congress (IHC) that took place at Kannur in 2019. The Governor on the other day had alleged that he got heckled during the event and those behind the same had gone scot-free as the CM himself had directed the police to ensure the same.
At that time, the Governor’s speech was interrupted as some delegates protested over his remarks about the anti-CAA agitations in various parts of the country then. In connection with the incident, eminent historian Irfan Habib was seen coming face to face with the Governor.
While CPM state secretary MV Govindan said that what happened at the IHC was a sudden protest, the Governor claims that there was a conspiracy behind it as he leveled allegations against Kannur VC Gopinath Ravindran and historian Irfan Habib for the same.
During the press meet, the Governor is also expected to make public the letters written by the CM at various times. The letters pertain to the assurance given by the CM to the Governor that the government will not interfere in any affairs of the varsities.
Earlier, on Friday, the CM during a meet the press had lashed out at the Governor reminding him to keep the decorum of the position he holds.
The CM also said, “Is this what is meant by the position of a Governor?” while responding to a query on Khan’s statement that he will not allow the University Laws Amendment Bill recently passed by the state assembly, alleging it seeks to legalize illegalities and pave the way for the appointment of “unqualified relatives” of staff of the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues.
At the same time, the following day, the Governor minced no words while touching upon issues like the IHC incident and appointments at various varsities.
Mentioning the heckling incident, Khan said, “What was the duty of the police? To register a case. Who prevented the police from registering a case? Who held the home department? You are trying to denigrate, and demean the office of the Governor. You have tried every trick in the box to pressurize me and to frighten me.”
In the case of appointments at varsities including that of vice-chancellors, the Governor said that the state government cannot be given the power to appoint vice-chancellors of universities as it would amount to ‘executive interference.’
According to him, the CM had earlier written a letter to him in which he had assured him that there would be no interference.
“And now they are proposing that they will appoint the Vice Chancellor. That would mean erosion of autonomy of the educational institutions. As long as I am here, I will not allow the erosion of autonomy of the universities,” he said then.
