Kerala governor seeks report from CM Pinarayi Vijayan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor P Sathasivam on Thursday sought an urgent report on the law-and-order situation in the state from chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The governor’s message was conveyed to the chief minister’s office through chief secretary by Thursday evening as violence continued unabated across the state.

Appealing to all sections of people to maintain calm and peace, the governor tweeted, “Sought from chief minister an urgent law and order report on the incidents of violence and destruction of private and public property in Kerala following entry of two young women in Sabarimala temple”.



Earlier in the day, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala rang up the governor and apprised him of the serious law-and-order situation in the state. “A serious situation has emerged in the state following the face to face attack by parties that rule the Centre and state. I have informed the governor about that,” Chennithala said. He requested the governor to intervene urgently to bring the situation under control.

Earlier, in November, a week after the Sabarimala temple was opened for Mandalam festival, the governor had summoned the chief minister and expressed anguish over the simmering tension prevailed in Sabarimala and Nilackal. He had also conveyed his displeasure over the treatment meted out to Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan at Pamba and Nilackal and urged the chief minister to consider revoking Sec 144 imposed at key points at the hill shrine.

However, the government decided not to revoke CrPC 144 which has been in force in Sabarimala since then.