THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : A day after the Union government granted Z-plus security to the governor in the wake of a series of bizarre scenes that unfolded in the streets of Kollam, the CPM on Sunday said the CRPF’s protection ring for Arif Mohammed Khan will not deter the SFI from protesting against him.
Party state secretary M V Govindan also accused the governor of blatantly lying that SFI workers had hit his car during the protest.
“Will the arrival of the CRPF, or even the Army, prevent anyone from protesting? Those who have resolved to protest will go ahead with their plans,” he told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram. The SFI, which has launched the stir against Khan, will continue the agitation, he said.
Govindan termed as a lie Khan’s charge that SFI activists who waved black flags at him in Kollam had pounded his car. He said the truth emerged after TV channels aired visuals of the incident. The protesters were nowhere near his car and it was Khan who had walked towards them yelling, he said.
“Kerala is a state where people indulge in political activities with honesty and sincerity. They won’t tolerate such acts,” he added.
He said Khan’s intention was to orchestrate a scenario wherein he would be attacked, thereby compelling the Union government to initiate action against the state.
“However, their plan to impose Article 356 (President’s rule) will not materialise in Kerala. There is a government here that enjoys people’s support,” he said.
Claiming that the law and order situation in the state was intact, he wondered whether a governor could hold a sit-in in front of a shop anywhere else other than in Kerala. Govindan said the CPM has not yet discussed the demand for recalling the governor.
BJP won’t win a single seat in Kerala: CPM
Govindan said there are strong demands for such a recall (of governor), and the party will discuss it if needed. He asserted that the BJP would not win a single seat in Kerala in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. “For the BJP and the UDF, their main declared rival in Kerala is the CPM. So they will speak against the CPM separately or jointly,” Govindan said.
There won’t be any let-up: SFI
SFI will continue with its stir against governor. “As long as the governor is not willing to withdraw his nominations to the Kerala and Calicut university senates, our protests will continue,” SFI state secretary P M Arsho said.