Thiruvananthapuram: Amid a high voltage protest and boycott by the opposition Congress-led UDF, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, on Wednesday presented his policy address in the assembly and read out references to anti-CAA resolution passed by the house, despite disagreeing with it.
Reading out the anti-CAA stand of the state government, the Governor said “our citizenship can never be on the basis of religion as this goes against the grain of secularism which is part of the basic structure of our constitution.”
Referring to the unanimous anti-CAA resolution passed by the assembly, Khan, who has been at loggerheads with the state government for moving the Supreme Court against the law and the resolution against it, said the government believes the Act “goes against the cardinal principles” underlying the Constitution.
“Strong states and strong centre are pillars of our federalism. The voices of genuine apprehension of the states need to be considered by the central government in the right spirit keeping broad national interest in mind, particularly when constitutional values are involved and there are widespread anxieties and apprehensions among a large number of our citizenry,” he said.
It’s learnt that the Governor decided to read out the reference to the state’s anti-CAA stance after a letter was sent by Vijayan on Wednesday morning, in which the chief minister had requested Khan to read the policy address “in its entirety sans any additions or deletions.”
“Since the constitutional function under Art 176 is exercised with the aid and advise of the council of ministers, it is requested that the address approved by the council of ministers be read in its entirety sans any additions or deletions”, the letter stated.
The day also saw an unprecedented protest by the UDF members, who also boycotted the policy address.
UDF members had also raised “Go Back” slogans holding aloft “Repeal CAA” and “Recall Governor” placards and banners in the day.
In his policy address, Khan said though he had his “reservations and disagreement” over the subject, he would read the para 18 containing reference to anti-CAA matter, just to “honour” the wish of the chief minister.
When Khan began his policy address, the opposition members trooped out of the assembly hall raising slogans and staged a sit in protest at the gate of the Assembly. (PTI)
