What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
The recent attack on Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan’s official car by the SFI activists is a shameful act of intolerance and violence that deserves the strongest condemnation from all sections of society. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, March 5, 2023, when the Governor was on his way to the airport to leave for Delhi, reflects the deteriorating law and order situation in the state under the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The SFI, the student wing of the CPI (M), has claimed that the attack was a protest against the Governor’s alleged attempts to saffronize the state universities by nominating people with RSS and BJP backgrounds to the senates of Kerala and Calicut universities. However, this is a flimsy and baseless excuse to justify an act of vandalism and hooliganism that has no place in a democratic and civilized society. The Governor, as the constitutional head of the state and the chancellor of the state universities, has the right and the duty to appoint people of his choice to the academic bodies, without any interference from the political parties or the student organizations. The SFI’s allegation of saffronization is propaganda to create communal polarization and to divert attention from the real issues facing the state, such as the financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic after effects, unemployment, and corruption scandals.
The attack on the Governor’s car is not an isolated incident, but a part of a larger pattern of violence and intimidation by the SFI and the LDF against anyone who dares to question or criticize their policies or actions. In the past, the SFI has been involved in several cases of assault, murder, and vandalism against their political rivals, teachers, journalists, and even common citizens. The LDF government, instead of taking action against the culprits, has been shielding and supporting them, thus encouraging a culture of impunity and lawlessness. The Chief Minister, who is also the Home Minister, has failed to maintain law and order in the state and has shown a blatant disregard for the constitutional authority and dignity of the Governor.
The attack on the Governor’s car is not only an attack on an individual but also an attack on the democratic values and institutions of the country. Portraying the people of Kerala, recognized for their literacy, culture, and tolerance, as recipients of such an insult pose a danger to the state’s tranquillity. This comes at a time when Kerala grapples with existing communal and political tensions. Moreover, it presents a formidable obstacle to the established rule of law and the constitutional structure of the nation, which upholds the principles of freedom of expression and the separation of powers.
The LDF government should have ensured security for the Governor and based on the number of violent incidents the SFI has been involved in, there is a case of banning the SFI, along the lines of the PFI getting banned by the MHA for undertaking “unlawful activities” which are “prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country”. Additionally, the Kerala police should take swift and stern action against the perpetrators of the attack, and bring them to justice. Moreover, the central government and the judiciary should intervene and ensure the safety and security of the Governor and the other constitutional functionaries in the state. the civil society, the media, and the academic community should also raise their voice against the attack, and uphold the values of democracy, tolerance, and non-violence.
