Kerala on Tuesday, November 15, witnessed a mass agitation against Governor Arif Mohammed Khan organised by the ruling Left Democratic Front, against the Governor’s ‘anti-democratic’ decisions. CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury inaugurated the protest in front of the Raj Bhavan, the Governor’s official residence, in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.
In his speech, Yechury accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -led Union government of bypassing the states in all matters concerning education, and for taking unilateral decisions. “This kind of situation (the tussle between the Governor and the government) is not happening solely in Kerala, but is happening in neighbouring Tamil Nadu too. The Tamil Nadu Assembly had to pass a new Bill on the question of chancellors and governors. It happened earlier in Bengal. The Bengal government passed a law to remove the Governor as the Chancellor to universities. It's now happening in Telangana, it happened in Maharashtra. The role of Governor as a constitutional position is reduced as an office that is advancing the political objective of the Union government,” Yechury alleged.
The standoff between the government and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan worsened with the latter’s direction in October to nine Vice Chancellors, ordering their resignation. Thousands of people took part in the protest in Thiruvananthapuram, while simultaneous protests took place in all districts across Kerala. The protest in front of the Raj Bhavan saw several leaders of the CPI(M) and its ally parties, and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Thiruchi Siva also addressed the crowd.
In his speech, Yechury added that in order to achieve their political objective, the BJP is “assaulting the system of higher education in Kerala”. “This is because the achievements by Kerala are equal to the foremost universities of the UK and the USA. Kerala has the potential with everyone having access to education and higher education. This is the exact opposite of the RSS project of establishing a fascistic Hindu Rashtra,” he alleged.
Meanwhile, DMK MP Thiruchi Siva said that Tamil Nadu is also facing a similar predicament, and that nearly 20 bills are pending with the Governor in the state. “We have the right to say that we don't need a Governor, and based on our experience, the post of Governor is not needed at all,” he added.
The MP also brought up the recent release of six convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. “The Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution seeking the release of those convicted in Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination. The Governor should have agreed to it, but instead he kept it with him and then sent it to the President. The Supreme Court then used Article 142 of the Constitution and released them saying that the governor has no rights to stop a resolution passed by the state assembly. The demand for state autonomy should arise from every corner in the country,” he added.
CPI(M) state Secretary MV Govindan echoed the view that the education system in Kerala is being saffronised. “The Governor has been trying to implement in Kerala the kind of saffronisation that is being carried out in the north by the BJP and the RSS," he said, adding that it “should not be allowed”.