Kerala Governor Arif stages sit-in-protest after SFI workers' black flag protest
KOLLAM: Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, who's been on a confrontational path with the left government for some time now, put the police on tenterhooks after he staged a sit-protest on the road on Saturday.
The Governor protested at Nilamel in Kollam district after a black flag demonstration by SFI activists when his vehicle passed through the area.
Khan insisted that the SFI workers should be immediately arrested. Following this, the police registered a case against 17 SFI workers and arrested them subsequently.
At 11 a.m., around 50 SFI workers, with banners and black flags, protested when the governor's vehicle passed through Nilamel.
He was en route to attend a function at a college. Governor Khan exited his car and criticised the protesters. He also criticised the police for not taking the SFI workers into custody. He accused the authorities of failing to ensure adequate security measures despite being aware of his route.
Refusing to leave, the governor took a seat by the roadside near a restaurant and demanded the immediate arrest of the SFI activists.
He stated, "I want to know what kind of action has been taken against these workers. I demand to see the FIR report, and until it is presented, I will not continue my journey. If you pursue charges and apprehend them, I will not budge from this spot. Why didn't the police take them into preventive custody? You were supposed to provide them protection," he asserted to the police.
Later, Governor Khan called up state police chief, Shaik Darvesh Saheb, who assured him of proper action.
"Last time I asked you this question: if the Kerala chief minister were to pass through this road, would your police allow 50 protesters to demonstrate like this? I am not going anywhere," the governor rebuked the DGP.
Subsequently, the police arrested the SFI protesters, removing them from the scene. The police have filed a case against the 17 SFI workers. The governor insisted on viewing the FIR report.
