The Union Home Ministry has extended Z+ security cover to Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan. The development comes after he staged a dharna on Saturday alleging lack of police action against SFI members who protested against him.
The Kerala Raj Bhavan tweeted, “Union Home Ministry has informed Kerala Raj Bhavan that Z+ Security cover of CRPF is being extended to Honourable Governor and Kerala Raj Bhavan.”
On Saturday, while the governor was en route to Kollam to attend a private event, members of the Students Federation of India waved black flags and protested against Khan at Nilamel, Kollam. Khan, who is at loggerheads with the State government, got down from the vehicle on seeing the protests and tried to confront them. Reportedly, police personnel intervened and tried to pacify the situation. Khan condemned the lack of police action against the protesters and questioned why they were not removed from the place despite prior information about the protests.
Khan refused to leave the place and re-enter his vehicle until police action was taken and he also briefed the union home ministry about the situation in the state. The governor charged that police did not take action against SFI protesters due to orders of the chief minister. He charged that the chief minister was promoting lawlessness in the state.
After sitting there for over two hours, Khan left the place only after the police showed him a copy of the FIR registered against 17 SFI activists under non-bailable provisions of the law.
SFI has been protesting against Khan, accusing him of favouring Sangh Parivar members in University bodies over the list provided by authorities. Earlier, in a similar situation, Governor Khan got down from his vehicle and confronted SFI protesters in Thiruvananthapuram. Khan, who was en route to Delhi then.
-with PTI inputs.
