Tension continues in Kerala as Khan vs Pinarayi tussle all set to amplify further

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan continued to provoke the agitating SFI activists by visiting busy streets of Kozhikode on Monday and calling them 'goondas'. Not left behind was CM Pinarayi Vijayan, who too launched a tirade against Youth Congress by justifying the assault on them by his security personnel and CPM's youth cadres. 

Accusing Khan of trying to trigger law and order problems, the Pinarayi said that the state would consider approaching the Centre against the Governor.

Khan upped the personal attacks against Pinarayi by alleging that the latter was involved in many political killings in his home district Kannur. 

Despite the heavy police bandobast at Calicut University, SFI staged a massive protest against Khan while he proceeded to attend a seminar in the campus, where he was lodged since Saturday.

SFI activists, who wore black dress, raised slogans against Khan.

Earlier during the day, Khan went on a surprise visit to Kozhikode's busy SM street, popularly known as 'Mitayi Teruvu', had the popular Kozhikode halwas, interacted with the public and posed for photographs. He even asked the police not to provide any additional protection.

He later said that only the 'SFI's Goondas sent by Vijayan' were protesting  against him as he did not face any resentment from the public.

CPM and SFI alleged that it was a deliberate attempt to trigger tension and hence the protesters maintained utmost restraint. SFI also held Khan responsible for the death of an elderly who could not be taken to the hospital on time owing to the chaos caused by the latter's visit, said SFI state secretary P M Arsho.

Meanwhile, Pinarayi continued to slam the Congress and Youth Congress workers by justifying the action on them by his personal security for waving black flags at him during the ongoing mass outreach programme, which entered Kollam district on Monday.

Pinarayi said that the security officials were only doing their duties and also maintained that he did not see the agitators being roughed up.

Meanwhile, Congress and Youth Congress workers are scaling up their protest against the CM. A secretariat march would be held on Wednesday.

With SFI deciding to intensify the protest against Governor Khan, and Congress calling for a larger protest against the CM, Kerala is likely to witness heightened chaos in the coming days.