The political landscape in Kerala faced a turbulent episode as Congress leader Shashi Tharoor condemned the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, following an alleged attack on Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's vehicle by the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing affiliated with the CPI(M).
Expressing deep dismay over the incident, Tharoor took to social media to criticize the LDF government, highlighting the role of the police under the Communist rule in facilitating what he described as the ruling party's alarming transgressions.
"Disgraceful behavior by SFI goons in blocking @KeralaGovernor Shri Arif Mohd Khan Sahib's car yesterday and assaulting his vehicle. His fury is entirely understandable," Tharoor voiced his condemnation, also denouncing the complicity of the police in allowing such actions.
He added, "The police under Communist rule have been agents of lawlessness, complicit in the ruling party's worst excesses. They allowed an assault on the Governor while allowing the manhandling of peaceful student demonstrators against the CM. Shameful."
Governor Khan, in response to the incident, accused Chief Minister Vijayan of orchestrating the event, alleging a conspiracy against him. Khan detailed the attack where SFI activists reportedly held a black flag protest and struck his car while en route to the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.
"Police have been prevented from acting against these rowdies, criminals. This was the fifth incident. The rods on which they had the black flags were used to hit the car. There are so many scratches on the car," Khan revealed, directly implicating the Chief Minister in the episode.
Amid the escalating tensions, the state police took 17 SFI workers into custody, with seven individuals arrested for their alleged involvement in assaulting the Governor's vehicle. Legal action has been initiated under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The incident highlighted the ongoing rift between political factions in Kerala, as the Congress, though an opposition to the LDF in the state, remains a constituent of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).
The unfortunate clash sheds light on the rising political discord in the region, prompting concerns about law enforcement neutrality and the need for swift action to curb such incidents, which mar the democratic process.
