New Delhi: Coming down heavily on Pinarayi Vijayan-led government in Kerala, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan said the Left dispensation has been employing activists associated with the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) to orchestrate demonstrations against him, news agency PTI reported.
Governor Khan claimed that all the protests targeting him in the southern state were a result of collaboration between the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the PFI.
During his recent visit to Thiruvananthapuram after a hiatus, Khan said that seven out of the 12 people arrested for protesting against him in Nilamel, Kollam, were affiliated with the PFI.
The Governor further said that he received this information only on Friday evening and thought it was necessary to share it with the people of the state.
"I have received reports indicating that seven out of the twelve individuals arrested in Nilamel are known PFI volunteers. Hence, this is not solely the work of the SFI," Governor Khan said.
As of now, there has been no immediate response from either the state government or the CPI(M) regarding the Governor's serious accusations.
Khan also pointed fingers at the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government, alleging that they are covertly encouraging members of a proscribed organisation to participate in protests, offering them protection even after committing unlawful acts. He slammed the state authorities for not only harbouring but also utilising members of the banned outfit to foment unrest in Kerala.
“What the government is doing is that they are telling the members of a banned organisation that you join these protests, you do something wrong and the government is there to protect you,” PTI quoted Khan as saying.
He also asserted that these actions by the state authorities are intended to provoke him into taking “drastic actions”.
Speaking about the incidents at a senate meeting held at Kerala University, where Higher Education Minister R Bindhu presided as Pro-Chancellor without his consent, Khan denounced her actions, stating that she lacked the authority to preside over the meeting without his approval, PTI reported.
Meanwhile, activists from the SFI, as part of their ongoing protest against Khan, waved black flags at him near the CPI(M) headquarters at the AKG Centre on Saturday. They have been protesting against Khan over his alleged attempts to "saffronise" the state's universities.