The ongoing tussle between Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and the state government intensified further on Wednesday with the governor writing to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stating that Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal ‘’ceased to enjoy pleasure’’.
In his letter to the Chief Minister, the Governor asked Vijayan to consider the matter with the seriousness it deserves and take action which is constitutionally appropriate.
The Governor’s letter was a result of the Finance Minister’s comment that “those from Uttar Pradesh would not be able to understand the ways of educational institutions in Kerala”. The minister had said that in response to Khan’s “needless” interventions in the affairs of the Kerala universities.
The minister’s mention of Uttar Pradesh had irked Khan. He saw it as an indirect dig at him as he hailed from the north Indian state. His displeasure at the remark was stated in a missive to the chief minister on 25 October.
Citing media reports of Balagopal’s speech at a University campus here on 19 October, “which seeks to the fire of regionalism and provincialism and if allowed to go unchecked they may have an erosive and baneful influence on our national unity and integrity” and the Governor was left with no option but to convey that the Finance Minister has “ceased to enjoy my pleasure”.
“Reported statements of Kerala FM K.N. Balagopal are a violation of the oath I had administered to him. A minister who deliberately violates the oath and undermines the unity and integrity of India can’t continue to enjoy my pleasure,” said Kerala Governor.
“In these circumstances, I’m left with no option but to convey that K.N. Balagopal has ceased to enjoy my pleasure. I hope that you consider the matter with the seriousness it deserves and take action which is constitutionally appropriate,” he said in a letter to CM.
The Governor said that the remarks of Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal seek to create a wedge between Kerala and other States of the Indian Union and project a false impression as if the different States of India have different systems of higher education.
Khan said that although others like Education Minister and Law Minister have indulged in attacks on him, but he wishes to ignore them as they hurt him personally. “But if I do not take cognizance of the seditious remarks of K.N. Balagopal, it would be a grave omission of duty on my part. The comments of the Finance Minister challenge not only the national unity and integrity but also the Constitutional Convention that makes it necessary that the Governor of each state shall be from outside the State,” said Khan.
