Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, alleging a 'conspiracy' to inflict physical harm, news agency PTI reported. The accusation followed an incident where activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the CPI(M), reportedly hit Khan's vehicle while he was en route to the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for his journey to Delhi, the report said.
Governor Khan asserted that CM Vijayan had "conspired" to send people to harm him physically.
"A visibly furious Governor got out of his car and told the media that it was CM Vijayan who 'conspired' to send people to hurt him physically," the PTI report said.
"Is it possible that if a CM programme is going on, cars with protesters will be allowed there? Will they (police) allow anybody to come near the car of the CM? Here cars of the protesters were standing there and police pushed them into their cars and they ran away. So, it is the CM, I am saying it clearly, who is conspiring and sending these people to hurt me physically. The 'goondas' have taken charge of the roads of Thiruvananthapuram," Khan was quoted as saying by PTI.
"Then I got down from my car. Then why did they run away? They were all sitting in a car, which means the police knew. But what will the poor police do when the CM is directing them?" Khan said.
This recent exchange is not the first instance of a war of words between Governor Khan and CM Vijayan in Kerala. Last week, Vijayan referred to Khan as a "representative of the Sangh Parivar" after the governor reportedly rejected Kerala University’s recommendations for nominees to the university's senate.
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During an address at the Nava Kerala Sadass event in Thrissur, CM Vijayan accused Governor Khan of being "willing to do anything for the Centre," branding him a "Sangh Parivar representative" The Chief Minister suggested that the governor's actions, including rejecting nominees with a perceived "right-wing background," reflected a pro-right-wing stance.
The Students Federation of India (SFI), the youth wing of the CPM, organised a march, alleging an "attempt to saffronise the higher education system." CM Pinarayi Vijayan raised questions about the governor's selection criteria for nominees and their qualifications.
The tensions between the state government and the governor have escalated, particularly concerning appointments in higher education institutions.