A major stand off has erupted between Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Government of Kerala over the latter organising a week long extravaganza titled Keralayeem at a cost of Rs 30 crore when the State is reeling under severe financial crunch.
“The Government itself is claiming that the State is witnessing major financial crisis. So there is no justification for holding this event at this juncture,” Governor told media persons on Sunday in the sidelines of a private function where he was the chief guest.
He lambasted the Pinarayi Vijayan-led CPI(M) government for squandering public money despite the Government submitting an affidavit in the Kerala High Court stating that the treasure is empty and the State has gone broken financially.
Governor’s statement comes at a time when the Government of Kerala has moved the Supreme Court asking it to declare the former has failed in exercising his Constitutional duties. Responding to queries in this regard the Governor stated that the Government has failed to keep him abreast of their intentions and reason for passing such legislation. The Bills held by the Governor include the move to appoint former Chief Justice of Kerala Manikular as chairman of the State Human Rights Commission in lieu of the services rendered by him and also the appointment of vice -chancellors of the universities in the State.
Arif Mohammed Khan said that as per Constitution, the Government is bound to keep the Governor informed of its moves. “If I have held back the Bills, it has got its own reasons and this I’ll state in the Supreme Court. I have full trust in the country’s apex court,” he said. He also stated that the Chief Minister never meets him or calls him up. “When two of his ministers came to meet me with a request to speed up the clearance of the Bill, I had asked him for some clarification. They replied that the chief minister alone could answer it,” he said.
The Keralaeeyam which began on 1 November, the 67th anniversary of the formation of the State, has been labeled as an attempt to promote Chief Minister Vijayan, his family members and leaders owing allegiance to the latter by leader of opposition V D Satheeshan. The opposition UDF led by the Congress is boycotting the event in protest against the carnival.
The event has created a law and order situation in the State as fights and scuffles between various factions of the party has become a routine event in the venues of the festival and police has declared an alert throughout night hours.
Interestingly, the Government of Kerala submitted the affidavit to the High Court over the financial troubles on November 1, Keraleeyam, a star studded show was inaugurated at the capital city by the chief minister and watched by his close family members including the new son-in-law Mohammed Riaz, a minister in the council of ministers, Speaker A N Shamseer, ministers V Abdul Rehman, Ahmed Deverkovil, Veena George, Saji Cherian, Antony Raju, Roshy Augustine, film stars Mammootty, Sobhana, Kamal Haasan and Mohan Lal.