The dramatic climax of Governor Arif Mohammed Khan’s three-day (16-19 December 2023) visit to the Calicut University campus was marked by his defiance against the Students’ Federation of India (SFI). Despite their threats, he boldly stepped onto the campus.
Governor Khan’s interaction with the locals
Governor Arif Mohammed Khan bravely walked down and mingled with the crowd on SM Street (also known as Mittai Theruvu) at noon. Street in Kozhikode, interacting with locals and sampling the famous Calicut halwa. His 40-minute walk, accompanied by BJP leaders, was a display of resilience against threats. Touched by the warm reception, he expressed his gratitude for the people’s affection by saying, “I came to the busiest market of Calicut. I am overwhelmed. I don’t know how to express my gratitude for the love and affection of people.”
Khan’s speech on CM, referring to him as a “Bully”
Before his venture into Kozhikode’s heart, the Governor had a verbal exchange with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, indirectly referring to him as a “bully” and questioning his involvement in several murders in Kannur. Despite the escalating tension, there was no confrontation between the SFI protesters and the Governor on the campus.
The Governor didn’t mince words, repeatedly calling the SFI activists goondas, while the SFI responded with provocative slogans and personal posters targeting Khan. When asked about the CM’s accusation that the Khan was deliberately provoking, Khan retorted, “A bully… You know his history. How many murders was he involved in Kannur? What a bully will say. How am I provoking? If I nominate CPM people to the Senate, then it is ok. If I refuse… How does the CM know that the people I have nominated are different from the ones recommended by the VC.”
Following this, his decision to appoint certain individuals to the senate of various universities sparked discontent among the SFI. They claimed that he was using his power as the Chancellor of the universities to favor nominees from the BJP-RSS.
CM, Pinarayi Vijayan counter-attack
demanding an explanation from Governor Khan
In addition, Vijayan demanded that Khan explain how he obtained a list of nominees from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for university senate positions. This request hints at a potential connection between the Governor and the RSS, a right-wing Hindu nationalist group.
Vijayan expressed concerns about the Sangh Parivar’s desire to control universities nationwide, but he firmly believes that their saffronisation agenda will not succeed in Kerala. He also criticized Khan for deviating from the traditional practice of selecting senate nominees from lists provided by the universities themselves.
Students Federation of India protests against the governor
The Students Federation of India (SFI) initiated the protest in response to allegations that Governor Khan, in his role as Chancellor, had appointed students who were either members of the ABVP or affiliated with the Sangh Parivar to the senates of Kerala and Calicut universities. The SFI claimed that Khan was implementing the BJP’s saffronisation agenda in the state’s higher education institutions.
In a recent development, the Kerala High Court issued an interim stay on the appointment of the Governor’s nominees. When questioned by the media, Governor Khan stated that he was not obligated to justify his selection of nominees to anyone. This statement further fueled the tension between the SFI and the Governor.
