Govt and party not concerned about future of bills: Govindan

Thiruvananthapuram: Echoing what chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said of governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Friday, CPM state secretary MV Govindan on Saturday said Khan’s public sermons against state government and the CM have created a palpable public impression that Khan was not exhibiting the composure expected from a person holding such a high position.
He said the government and party were not worried about the future of the bills pending clearance of the governor.
Govindan, who dismissed the clamour that the governor and government were heading for a major showdown that could potentially snowball into a constitutional crisis, said the governor was trying to play the role of opposition by parroting what the BJP, RSS forces say about the Left and LDF government.
“There is no confrontation. The government functions as per the provisions of Indian constitution and the law of the land. Governor is also expected to do the same. Where is the element of confrontation in that? However, we are ready to go to any extent to ensure that he discharges his constitutional obligations and abides by the rule of law,” he said, adding that the governor was trying to spread canards at CPM, the LDF front and Marxism. This, said Govindan, exhilarates the right-wing media and opposition.
Govindan said neither the party nor the government were scared about the future of the 11 bills passed by the state assembly.
“If the assembly possessed an act, it is bound to become law, sooner or later. Let him show the evidence he claims to be in his possession. We are ready to clarify whatever he says. We keep all options open,” the party secretary said.
Like universities, the government too belongs to the public. “It’s an elected government, the governor should understand this,” he said, in reply to the governor’s veiled threat that he would not give his assent to the controversial amendment of the Universities Act aimed at curtailing the powers of governor as chancellor. If the governor was of the view that the Universities Act amendment bill was not in sync with the legal provisions, he should inform the government instead of speaking about it to the media.