The tiff between the Governor and Kerala government escalated after the former alleged he was attacked in 2019 during the Indian History Conference in Kannur.

news Controversy Sunday, September 18, 2022 - 12:16
IANS

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Saturday, September 17, lashed out against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, saying he would approach the Union government over its inaction following an alleged attack on the Governor’s life. Khan had earlier alleged that during the Indian History Conference, historian Irfan Habib and others had spoken for over one-and-a-half hours against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and that when he began responding, there was an attempt to physically assault him.

The Kerala Governor had alleged that his ADC (Aide-De-Camp) Manoj Pande's shirt was torn in the confrontation and that this was an attempt on Khan’s life. The Kerala Governor alleged to mediapersons at Kochi that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was behind the conspiracy, and that the Kerala Police had not taken any action against this intimidation as the Chief Minister himself was allegedly behind the conspiracy.

Arif Mohammed Khan came down heavily against Kerala CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan, who had on Saturday, told the media that the Governor or his office had not filed any police complaint in the matter. The Governor, while speaking to the media persons said, "If the President, his entourage or Governor, his entourage are attacked then the police have to take a suo moto case and the CPI(M) leader does not even know this."

The Kerala Governor also said that he would release the video of the attack at Kannur University on Monday, September 19. Strengthening his attack against Pinarayi Vijayan, he also said that he would release the letters written by the Kerala Chief Minister that the state government won't intervene in the affairs of the universities in the state. Arif Mohammed Khan said that he will, however, not reveal the information about the certain personal favours that were sought by the Chief Minister from him.

With the state BJP throwing its weight behind the Governor, the fight between Arif Mohammed Khan and Pinarayi Vijayan escalated after the former held a meeting with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday. The Governor’s office said that this was a “courtesy” visit, however, Khan is yet to comment on it.

Watch: Is it Hyderabad Liberation Day or Telangana National Integration Day? Watch this week's Let Me Explain on the politics over history:

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