In view of the Student Federation of India (SFI) hooliganism against the head of the State, the Union Home Ministry has resolved to deploy CRPF’s Z-Plus security cover for Kerala Governor Dr Arif Mohammed Khan.
The order came in the wake of the shameful incident that occurred in Nilamel, Kollam, on January 27. This journal had reported earlier that Dr Arif Mohammed Khan alighted from the car as soon as SFI goons staged black flag protests and reached near his car. Then he sat in front of a small tea shop. He told the police officer, who came to pacify and persuade him to continue his itinerary, that Police is the culprit. Even though the State Police Chief spoke to him on the phone and senior officers in person, he did not heed.
By that time, he had reportedly got in touch with PMO and the Home Ministry. He told the Kerala Police Officer that he must see the FIR registered against the SFI men. When he was told that the case was registered against 12 SFI men, the Governor objected to it as 50 SFI blokes had participated in the protests. Then, Police registered a case against 17 SFI goons. The Governor proceeded to the next destination only after getting the copy of the FIR. SFI men are charged with non-bailable offences. The same evening, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) took control of the Governor’s security.
The Governor told the media that the protesters are daily wage workers of SFI. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan encourages the law-breakers. He said that he came out of the car as a stick with the black flag was thrown towards his car. He asserted that he was not afraid of the agitators’ attack. He said, “Let them beat me”. Swami Vivekananda is his role model, hence there is no fear. He said there were 100 police personnel in Nilamel; however, they could not stop the SFI goons. Police are under pressure. He wondered if the Police organise similar security measures if CM is the VIP traveller. He said he did not demand Central security. He added that he is 72. Still, he is not scared of anything. Governor ridiculed SFI men, saying that they came like tigers and ran away like foxes when he (Governor) came out of the car. He said that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) tries to divert the people’s attention from the burning issues like farmer’s suicides and non-payment of welfare pensions, etc.
Meanwhile, the Union Government has sought a report from the Governor regarding the Nilamel (Kollam) incident. It is in the light of the communication the Governor conveyed to the secretary of the Home Minister when the incident was taking place in Nilamel.
Governor continued that he would not allow anyone to interfere in his jurisdiction; similarly, he does not like to interfere in the Government affairs. While talking to the media, he said that he has not demanded the beefed-up security for him. CM misguides the Police. Police did not stop the protestors. Kerala Police is one of the best forces in Bharat. However, they do not get the freedom to work. They suffer political pressure.
The Governor stated that his duty is to appraise the Union Government of the situation prevailing in the State. It was not him, but the Raj Bhavan, which informed Delhi that he was sitting on the wayside. There was an attack on his car at Nilamel; then he alighted from the car. In Thiruvananthapuram also, Police took action only after he alighted from the car. He was referring to the incident that took place last month. He again wondered if the Police would do the same if it happened to the CM. He said, some people, when they get the power, think that they are omnipotent.
The Central security for the Governor is a grave jolt to the Pinarayi regime. It should be recalled, Governor had alleged that CM’s goons stopped him on the road. When the news of the Central Force’s security for the Governor spread in the media, CM Pinarayi Vijayan said that ‘Governor is included in the list of RSS men who are having CRPF security’. Those words contained his embarrassment and disappointment; now, his SFI goons will find it difficult to create trouble during his tours.
CPM State Secretary M V Govindan went to the extent of stating that the deployment of central forces could not put an end to the protests against the Governor.
Union Minister V Muraleedharan told the media persons that Kerala Police Intelligence was aware of the SFI goons’ attack, but still, the Home Ministry did not do what was necessary to foil it. Keralites, by and large, approve of the Governor’s style. Some CPM men alone disapprove it. Ordinary CPM men hate the party; it provides job opportunities only to the people of some leaders. They like and respect Dr Arif Mohammed Khan. They have seen how CM Pinarayi was handling the protesters who came to wave black flags against him. CM Pinarayi sent goons to threaten the Governor, otherwise how did media persons get the information in advance. Muraleedharan referred to Pinarayi Vijayan’s statement belittling CRPF; such reference is an insult to the State he rules. Earlier, CM Pinarayi had asked if CRPF was going to rule the State. CM Pinarayi’s statement that CRPF is for protecting RSS should be condemned.
Reports from Kollam suggest that the Governor paid Rs 1,000 to the proprietor of the tea shop where the Governor sat for several hours when SFI men were unleashing anarchy on the road on January 27. It was the compensation for the loss of several hours of business.
SFI tried to replay the morning drama again in Thiruvananthapuram the same day. They played a ‘butter milk’ agitation stating he (Governor) was thirsty due to sitting in the sun for a long time (at Nilamel, Kollam). But, the Police arrested them.
Reports suggest that the arrested are booked under hard and stringent IPC Sections 147, 149, 143, 353 and 284. If so, the culprits will have to undergo imprisonment for a long time and will have to pay a penalty also.
Meanwhile, the Kerala Home Ministry has decided to continue the Kerala Police protection for the Governor, thanks to the humiliation the Government suffered due to the Central security for Raj Bhavan and the Governor. Otherwise, it will be a message to the whole world that Kerala Police has failed to protect the head of the State.
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