Kerala Governor Shares Video Clips Of His Heckling, Accuses LDF Of Inaction Against Perpetrators

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, in a scathing attack on Monday, accused the state of silencing voices of dissent, including that of the Raj Bhavan.

Khan cornered the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government over issues including his heckling at a university in 2019, and the state's revenue generation largely dependent on lottery and liquor sales.

He shared the video clippings of him being heckled at the Kannur University event in 2019 for his support to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Khan said a senior functionary who is now in the Chief Minister's Office can be seen in the visuals preventing the police from discharging their duties.

He was referring to K K Ragesh, private secretary to the Chief Minister. He asked that if the protest was spontaneous, then why were the protesters holding placards. In the video, historian Irfan Habib and Kannur University vice-chancellor Gopinath Ravindran could also be seen.

"In a state where people are arrested for wearing black shirts, these things happen. The police personnel tried to control the situation and stopped the people from reaching me."

"Mr Ragesh stopped the police from doing their duty. Possibly that is why he has been rewarded," the Governor added.

The Governor accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for being the reason behind the police not filing FIR for attempting to cause physical harm to him at the Kannur University three years back.

He invoked Section 124 of the IPC (Indian Penal Code) that carries punishment for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine, for trying to intimidate the president of India and governors of states.

In his vehement attack on the Kerala government, Khan said it was a shame the sources of revenue of the state were primarily based on lottery and alcohol sales.

He also raised the issue of political killings in Kannur, Chief Minister Vijayan's home turf, under the LDF-led government.

There is already a tussle going on between the Governor's office and the Kerala government over appointments at universities. Khan has been accusing the LDF government of nepotism and favouritism in university appointments in the state.

(With inputs from PTI)