New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 12: Training his guns directly at the Kerala Chief Minister and the Left wing Students Federation of India, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Tuesday claimed that his car was “attacked” by SFI activists at the behest of CM Pinarayi Vijayan.
The Governor, presently in New Delhi, reiterated his call for a report on the financial health of the state government amid claims of an ongoing financial emergency in Kerala.
Khan today hardened his stand opposing Vijayan over the ongoing stir by SFI against the Governor in Kerala. He said a “conspiracy” hatched by the chief minister was playing out in the state. The Governor said the protesters there were acting as per Vijayan’s “instructions” to cover up the alleged financial mismanagement of the state.
Just because the state government is led by the Communists, Kerala does not become a totalitarian or a dictatorial state and “law shall prevail” there, Khan said.
He was speaking to reporters in the national capital, a day after he accused the CM of ‘conspiring’ to hurt him physically.
Khan claimed that the state government is “so piqued” by him after he has called for a report on Kerala’s financial crisis following the chief secretary’s affidavit to the High Court.
“The chief minister is saying the government is not bound to reply to every query of the Governor. Let him not reply. I will wait for 10 days. And then, if the state is in crisis, it is my duty to make my recommendations to the Central government,” Khan told reporters at Kerala Bhavan, a day after the incident in Thiruvananthapuram.
He said the state Chief Secretary in an affidavit to the high court has stated that the Kerala government is not in a position to disburse the pension of employees.
The state chief secretary also stated in the affidavit that the Kerala government is not in a position to honour the financial guarantees that it has given, he said, adding “Which means a financial emergency in the state. And I have asked for a report”.
Referring to the SFI students blocking the car, Khan noted that if anybody tries to overhaul the Governor, it is a cognisable offence and has to be dealt with under section 124 of IPC.
The Governor said he had already sent messages to the Chief Secretary and the state DGP making it clear that mere hauling up was not enough.
“This conspiracy has been hatched by the chief minister. It is as per his instruction, these people are working,” Khan charged.
“Who’s the Home Minister? The Chief Minister… Everything is being done as per his direction. It is he who has hatched this conspiracy and three days before these things happened, he made a public statement…,” he said.
He further said it was the start of the collapse of the Constitutional machinery in Kerala. (PTI)
