"EC should take cognizance": Kerala Governor on CPIM's John Brittas' lecture in Kerala University
Apr 20, 2024
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], April 20 : Few days after CPI-M leader John Brittas delivered a lecture on the premises of Kerala University campus, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan said that this is the time when cognizance has to be taken by the Election Commission.
On being asked by the reporters that in Kerala University, despite the Vice Chancellor and Registrar saying no, the employees' union conducted a lecture by CPI-M leader John Brittas, and now the Election Commission has asked for an explanation. To this, Arif Mohammad Khan said, "This is the time when cognizance has to be taken by the election commission... There is a blanket ban on canvassing and campaigning inside the university campus. So, if the university authorities had ignored that blanket ban and permitted somebody to hold a meeting, maybe I would have sought an explanation."
The Kerala governor further said, "But here, as far as I know, the university authorities had informed clearly that at this moment in time, you cannot have a meeting inside the university campus. So, it is now for the Election Commission to take cognizance."
The Governor alleged that some people use high-handed methods to pursue their agenda. "The problem is that some people think it is their right to violate the law, to violate the rules and to use high-handed methods to pursue their agenda. I hope, good sense prevails and they stop doing this."
Remarking on the protest, Khan said that everyone has a right to protest and nobody will have a problem with a peaceful protest. "They can keep protesting all the time, there is no problem, but hitting the car with rods; is that protest?... Nobody has any problem with the protest as long as you are doing it peacefully. But when in the name of protest, you come near the car, you start hitting the car, you stop the car, then that is not protest. That is an attack.
On being asked if the Central government should intervene in this, he said, "No, I have said several times that these things are done deliberately. They want some action to be taken and I shall not oblige them."
On Prime Narendra Modi's interview to Asianet that LDF's protest against the governor was nothing but disrespect against the constitution, Khan said that difference of opinion is always welcome but using violence is not democracy. "We live in a democracy. The dissent or difference of opinion is always welcome. But using violence or high-end methods is the end and this is not democracy..."
Reflecting on his past days, Kerala Governor recalled that he faced much worse situation after he resigned from the Central government in 1986. "You have to face these things... This is not the first time. I faced much worse situation after I resigned from the Central government in 1986. My own experience is that if you face them boldly, then they go back."
