The standoff between the Raj Bhavan and the CPM government in Kerala worsened on Saturday after Governor Arif Mohammed Khan began a sit-in in front of a wayside shop in Kollam district when Students’ Federation of India (SFI) activists allegedly hit his vehicle. Following the faceoff, the Union Home Ministry informed Kerala Raj Bhavan that Z+ security cover of CRPF is being extended to the Governor
Khan staged the unprecedented protest at Nilamel in Kollam for more than an hour, saying, “Chief minister is promoting lawlessness in the state. Lawlessness will not be allowed. It is the CM who is giving protection to these people. They are only the daily wagers of the chief minister. It is the CM who is responsible,” he said.
He only ended his protest after the police registered a case against 17 SFI activists and read out the FIR in which non-bailable sections were included. The SFI, the student wing of the CPM, has been agitating against the governor, accusing him of filling up university senates with “Sangh Parivar men”.
The drama unfolded when Khan was proceeding to attend a function at an ashram in Kollam district when a group of SFI men protested against him, raising slogans and showing black flags. A few of them who were waiting for the governor’s convoy jumped in front of his car with flags. Khan immediately stopped the car and pulled up the local police who were on duty.
Senior police officials tried to pacify Khan, who insisted on initiating action against the protestors who had disappeared from the scene. The governor also got angry with police officials for their failure to prevent the SFI activists from protesting against him.
Putting the police under pressure, Khan took a chair and sat in front of it for more than an hour. In the meantime, he was heard directing personal staff to get in touch with the offices of the Prime Minister and the Union home minister. Later, policemen met the governor with the FIR, registering a case against 17 people, naming 12.
