'Constitutional machinery collapsing': CM Pinarayi Vijayan trying to hurt me physically, alleges Governor Arif Mohammed Khan

NEW DELHI: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Monday said the Constitutional machinery in the state appears to be collapsing, and accused chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan of conspiring to hurt him physically

Khan's scathing accusation came after his vehicle was allegedly hit by activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the CPI(M), while he was on his way to the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to leave for Delhi.

A visibly furious Governor got out of his car and told media that it was CM Vijayan who 'conspired' to send people to hurt him physically. Governor Khan alleged a serious security lapse from the police and alleged that the brain behind the drama was CM Pinarayi Vijayan.

The allegations also come a day after Kerala Police arrested 20 activists of the SFI in connection with two separate instances of waving black flags at the Governor.


The black flags were waved at the Governor near Vazhuthacaud in the state capital when Khan was on his way to an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, police said.

Eighteen activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI) were arrested in connection with that incident, police said.

Later, black flags were waved at the Governor when he was returning from the event and two more activists of SFI, the student wing of the CPI(M), were arrested, an officer of Museum police station said.



Financial emergency
Tensions between the CM and the Governor are at an all-time high due to a politically contentious petition seeking the Presidential imposition of a financial emergency in the State under Article 360(1) of the Constitution.

Khan hit a raw nerve by forwarding the plea authored by social activist R.S. Sasikumar to the government for comments.

Sasikumar had sought the President’s intervention to "save Kerala from irredeemable financial instability precipitated by the state government’s reckless borrowing, lax tax administration, and unpardonable profligacy".

(With inputs from agencies)

02:04