National Desk, 12th December: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of orchestrating an attack on him, alleging a conspiracy for physical harm. The accusation followed an incident where Students Federation of India (SFI) activists, the student wing of the ruling CPI(M), allegedly attacked the Governor’s vehicle while he was inside.
Visibly angered, Governor Khan claimed that CM Vijayan conspired to send people to physically harm him. He detailed the incident, stating that his vehicle was surrounded, and protesters, allegedly directed by the CM, waved black flags and hit the vehicle.
Quoting Khan, news agency PTI reported, “Is it possible that if a CM programme is going on, cars with protesters will be allowed there? Will they (police) allow anybody to come near the CM’s car? Here, the cars of the protesters were standing there and police pushed them into their cars and they ran away. So, it is the CM, I am saying it clearly, who is conspiring and sending these people to hurt me physically. The ‘goondas’ have taken charge of the roads of Thiruvananthapuram.”
According to a Raj Bhavan source, black flags were waved at Khan at three places, and on two occasions, his car was hit by the protesters. However, police stated that the Governor’s vehicle was blocked by SFI activists only in one place, and seven people from the student outfit have been arrested.
The Congress, UDF opposition, and BJP joined in accusing CM Vijayan of being behind the alleged attack, alleging a breakdown of law and order in the state. Opposition leader VD Satheesan called it a historic first in the state’s history and questioned potential attempt to murder charges against SFI activists. The Congress demanded stern action against police officers allegedly involved in the incident.
BJP state chief K Surendran claimed that the incident occurred with police connivance, indicating a breakdown of law and order in the state. He alleged that the Left party resorted to attacking the Governor due to recent Supreme Court verdicts.
This follows a similar incident on Sunday when SFI activists waved black flags at the Governor near Vazhuthacaud. Khan was on his way to an event organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
Governor Khan and the state government have been at loggerheads over making decisions on pending bills passed in the assembly.
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