Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan accused Governor Arif Mohammed Khan of "misusing" his Chancellor's post to exercise powers that are not vested in him
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM — Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday accused Governor Arif Mohammed Khan of “misusing” his Chancellor’s post to exercise powers that are not vested in him and warned of a strong public opposition against his “anti-democratic” actions.
Pinarayi Vijayan was referring to the Governor’s directive to nine Vice Chancellors of various universities to resign from office by 11.30 a.m this morning.
In a hurriedly called press conference, the Chief Minister told mediapersons that the Governor has issued the orders to the Vice Chancellors on the basis of the Supreme Court order against the Kerala Technical University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Rajasree.
The Supreme Court, he said, has directed the Vice Chancellor to be removed as her posting was not in compliance with the UGC guidelines. The Top Court’s verdict on KTU Vice-Chancellor was not binding on other Vice Chancellors. The Governor’s moves to make higher education subservient to the Hindutva forces would be opposed tooth and nail. The Governor should not end up becoming a laughing stock before society, he added.
Bent upon destroying higher education
All the Kerala Universities, Vijayan said, were highly rated in the country and that all the Vice-Chancellors have top qualifications matching the best in the industry. He said that the Governor as Chancellor seems to be acting on behalf of some destructive forces who are bent on destroying the higher education sector of the state.
He said that the Governor not signing bills passed by the Assembly is “anti-constitutional”. The Governor was keeping bills pending leading to inordinate delays,the CM added.
Governor Khan was insulting the Ministers of the state and that he does not have any right to interfere with the academic qualifications of the ministers.
He said that the Governor had addressed Kannur University Vice-Chancellor as ‘Criminal’ and a highly respected academician of the country as ‘Goonda’. He added that the Governor was working as the tool of the ‘Sangh Parivar’.
Anti-state policy
Pinarayi Vijayan said that this move was against the development of the state and that the Governor may have to face public agitation if this anti-state policy is continued.
The Chief Minister also said Kerala was a democratic society and would definitely have to face the protest. He said that the Governor does not miss a single chance to demote the state.
No one should think that a democratically elected government can be made a scarecrow and rule the state from behind. The Governor will have to face a strong opposition against it, the chief minister said.
VCs refuse to resign
Meanwhile, all the nine Vice Chancellors (VCs) of various Kerala Universities, who were asked to resign before 11.30 a.m. on Monday by Governor Arif Mohammed Khan in his capacity as the Chancellor of the University, have refused to quit. Instead, the VCs approached the Kerala High Court against the Kerala Governor’s directive.
It may be noted that the Kerala Governor had on Sunday in an unprecedented move directed the nine Vice Chancellors of the state to resign from their respective posts. The Governor had issued the directive on the basis of the Supreme Court verdict directing the Kerala Technical University Vice Chancellor to demit office due to discrepancies in the selection process.
The order of the Governor came as a shock to the Left-front government also. — IANS
