Kerala Governor cites smuggling activities as grounds to interfere CM's office affairs

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan said he found smuggling activities in the state as grounds to interfere in the affairs of the Kerala Chief Minister Office, which he alleged patronises the smuggling activities.

Governor Arif Mohammed Khan said "I have never interfered. But now I see all smuggling activities are patronised by the office of the Chief Minister (CMO). But if the state government, the CMO and the people close to CM are involved in smuggling activities, definitely there are grounds for me to interfere."

When reporters tried to get his response over Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's accusations against the Governor in connection with the appointments of Vice Chancellors in the state universities, Khan challenged CM Vijayan asking him whether he would resign if he failed to prove the accusations, offering his resignation if it is proved otherwise.

At a convention in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, the chief minister had said the Governor was trying to make universities in the state centres of RSS and Sangh Parivar and that he was trying to implement the saffronisation agenda of these groups.

Attending a convention, CM Vijayan accused the Governor of trying to patronise universities in the state by appointing RSS men.

Refuting the accusations, the Governor said he is ready to give up his post if proved the CM's accusations of nominating not just an RSS person but any person using his authority. "People sitting in the CMO dictate Kannur University VC to appoint their relatives — underqualified and unqualified," he added.