Vijayan Takes Dig At Guv Over Z+ Security, Says Khan Stepping Out Of Vehicle During SFI Protest 'Against Protocol'

High drama played out in Kerala after the Governor, who was facing black flag protests by SFI, got off his vehicle and lashed out at the chief minister, accusing him of promoting “lawlessness”.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan stages a sit-in protest at a tea shop in Kollam.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said Governor Arif Mohammed Khan should not have stepped out of his vehicle during SFI’s black flag protest and accused him of taking a stand contrary to the democratic principles, news agency PTI reported.

Addressing a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, CM Vijayan termed the Z+ security cover to Governor Khan as “strange” and said he was now a part of a group that comprised some RSS workers who enjoy the special protection provided by Centre. Earlier in the day, Z+ security cover of CRPF personnel was provided to the Kerala Governor.

High drama played out in Kerala after the Governor, who was facing black flag protests by SFI, got off his vehicle and lashed out at the chief minister, accusing him of promoting “lawlessness” in the state.

While on his way from Thiruvananthapuram to a programme in Kottarakkara, Governor Khan’s vehicle was stopped by the SFI protesters, who waved black flags at him and raised slogans "Sanghi Chancellor go back".

The Governor got off his vehicle and shouted back “aao (come)” at them. The police acted as a barrier between Khan and the protesters. After the police disbursed the SFI activists, Khan sat on a chair at a shop and demanded action against them. He could be heard asking the security personnel to call the Police Commissioner or the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Taking potshots at CM Vijayan, he said, "It is him who is giving direction to the police to give protection to these lawbreakers against whom, including the state president of the organisation (SFI) many criminal cases are pending in the courts.”

#WATCH | On the SFI black flag protest, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan says, "First, they (police) said there were 12 people. Later they said 17 people, which is written in the FIR... There were more than 100 policemen there. If the Chief Minister is passing through that… pic.twitter.com/1IPXV48Q7k

— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2024

He also questioned whether the protestors would have been allowed to line up alongside the police on the roadside if the chief minister was passing through the route.

After sitting there for over two hours, Khan left only after the police showed him a copy of an FIR registered against 17 SFI activists under non-bailable provisions of the law.