CPI(M) slams Governor for 'crimes against nation' remark on Pinarayi Vijayan

CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan called Arif Mohammed Khan a "caretaker Governor" following his criticism of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

In Short

• Kerala Governor accused Pinarayi Vijayan of hiding "crimes against the nation"
• Governor plans to report to Centre and President
• CPI(M) dismissed Governor's threats as "mere rumblings"

As Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of keeping him in the dark about "crimes against the nation" committed in the state and said he would report it to the Centre and the President, the ruling CPI(M) hit back by saying "do not try to scare us".

Khan, speaking to reporters here in the evening, said that the CM, while denying having used the terms 'anti-national activities' and 'anti-state activities' in any public statements, has conceded that he generally mentioned 'crimes against the nation' that were committed in the state.

The Governor said this referring to a recent letter sent to him by Vijayan.

"What is a crime against the nation? What kind of activity is it? Is it not more serious? Should you (CM) not have briefed me? Was it not your duty? You have failed to do your duty," Khan contended.

He further said that when such crimes against the nation are committed, he has to report them to the President and the Central government.

Shortly after that, CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan, at a press conference here, said that Khan's five-year tenure ended on September 5, and he is only a "caretaker Governor".

Govindan said that the "threats" of Khan that he would report about the CM and the state government to the Centre and the President were "mere rumblings".

"Sitting in the position of a caretaker Governor, he is acting in a wrong manner by summoning officials and threatening them. It is just a new method of a Governor who has in the past failed to perform his constitutional duties.

"So, 'do not try to scare us', is what we have to say to him. Kerala has seen such threats before and survived them," Govindan said.

Earlier, speaking to reporters, Khan also said that the chief secretary and the DGP were coming regularly to Raj Bhavan, "without authorisation from the chief minister" and now, "no more will they be welcome".

He further said that he had written to the CM seeking information about the crimes against the nation, but Vijayan did not even acknowledge it.

"He (CM) acknowledged my letter and responded to it 27 days later, only after I summoned the chief secretary and the DGP. But, he did not furnish any information.

"He does not come to the Raj Bhavan, and he does not allow them (chief secretary and DGP) to come because he has something to hide. So, there is something fishy," Khan said.

He said that the chief secretary and the DGP had been coming regularly to Raj Bhavan.

Khan said that the chief secretary also came to promulgate an ordinance when the Assembly was in session.

"I said it was not proper to do so as the Assembly was in session and to re-examine it. The chief secretary came again and said it was fine. So, I signed it.

"So, all this time they were coming without authorisation from the CM. No more will they be welcome," the Governor said.

The Governor and the CM have been at loggerheads following Khan's summons to the chief secretary and DGP seeking information about any alleged anti-national activities going on in the state.