Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan addressed a seminar at the Calicut University amid a massive protest by SFI on Monday.
A tense situation prevailed on the campus throughout the day with Hundreds of activists of SFI staging a massive demonstration in front of the university. The entire area reverberated with slogans like; “Sanghi Chancellor go back”, “Sanghi Governor Go Back”, and “Mister Khan this is Kerala.”
The police had heavily barricaded the main gate to prevent the activists from entering the campus or approaching the hall where the seminar was held. On several occasions, the SFI activists clashed with the police.
Quite a few students were forcibly bundled into the waiting police vans and taken away. However, the students regrouped soon and resumed their protest.
The agitating SFI activists, in a dramatic move, left the campus in a procession towards the national highway taking the cops by surprise. They squatted on the roads from where Arif Mohammad Khan was to return to the airport.
Many activists wore black T-shirts with slogans like “Sanghi Chancellor Go back.” Hundreds of black balloons went up in the air as a mark of protest.
Khan visits Mithai Theruvu, interacts with people, takes selfies and tastes sweets
Before attending the seminar, the Governor made a surprise visit to the Mithai Theruvu, the busiest shopping street in Kozhikode. He mingled freely with school children, customers, and local people and took selfies with them. Khan interacted with shopkeepers and even tasted the famous “halwa”.
“I don't need any police protection. The people of Kerala love me. They will protect me," said Khan, who gave anxious moments to the cops responsible for providing him security.
The cops heaved a sigh of relief as the Governor ended his 40-minute sojourn to the street. No untoward incident happened during his visit to Mithai Theruvu as he returned to the campus to attend the seminar.
CPM district leadership took a dig at him stating that Khan could move freely because he is in Kerala. His baseless allegation of the collapse of law and order stands exposed.
A section of Left leaders hailed the SFI for exercising restraint despite the provocative actions of the Governor in pulling down banners from the campus and his repeated reference to the students as "goondas and criminals."
Schedule change:
There was a schedule change. Instead of returning to the Guest House after the seminar, the Governor went straight to the airport, in the wake of a massive SFI protest. He took a flight to Bengaluru from where he would return to Thiruvananthapuram on Monday night.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in Thiruvananthapuram with SFI calling to organise massive protests on Arif Mohammad Khan's arrival from Kozhikode. Heavy police bandobast has been made in and around Raj Bhavan premises to prevent the protestors from storming the area.
Levels wild allegations against CM
The governor spoke to media persons at least three times during the day. He lashed out at the SFI activists calling them “goondas and paid criminals of the chief minister.”
“These criminals and goondas have been hired by the chief minister to attack me. He is sending them under police protection," the governor said.
He sought to link Pinarayi Vijayan with several political murders that took place in the Kannur district. "Kerala police is one of the best forces in the country but the chief minister is not allowing them to function impartially,” he said and pointed out that the High Court had banned protests and banners on the campus.
Khan alleged that the CPM was appointing its people to the universities. The governor said he was only accountable to the President of India.
