Mani’s disparaging comments and hartal in Idukki: Rift between Governor-Govt set to widen

IDUKKI: The stage is set for a rift between the Governor and the state government following M M Mani’s disparaging remarks against Governor Arif Muhammad Khan. The governor has not yet responded to Mani's remarks but is taking them very seriously. So, it is sure that he will react harshly. Raj Bhavan may not see Mani's remark as an isolated incident. When the ministers made bad remarks earlier, the governor responded that the chief minister was behind it. Even though the battle is fierce, the governor has made it clear that he will make a policy announcement in the assembly. In the meantime, Mani came with a controversial remark, creating a stir again.

Mani made disparaging remarks against the governor for refusing to give consent to the Land Assignment Amendment Bill passed by the assembly. Mani said ‘Governor entering Idukki will be a tough task. Merchants making pulisseri with gold cannot be accepted. Should understand the feelings of the people. Traders are part of the people. They are not new. You don't have to go and tolerate him,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the LDF Idukki district committee decided to hold a Raj Bhavan march on January 9. The Governor is coming to Thodupuzha for the programme of the traders and entrepreneurs’ coordination committee. In protest of this, the LDF also declared a hartal in the district that day. The LDF leaders have requested the traders organization to cancel the event. However, Sunny Paimpillil, district president of the Kerala Traders and Industry Coordinating Committee said that the programme will be held on January 9 as scheduled.

The inauguration of the Karunya Kudumba Suraksha Project implemented by the Vyapari Ekopana Samithi in the district will be held at 11.30 am at the Thodupuzha Merchants Trust Hall. Tens of thousands of people from the district are mobilizing LDF Raj Bhavan to march against the Governor's stance of not signing the Land Assignment Amendment Bill. On the same day, the Governor gave a date to participate in the program of the traders and industry coordinating committee. LDF District Convener K K Sivaraman, CPM district secretariat member V V Mathai said the decision of the Traders and Industrialists Coordination Committee to honor the Governor on that day was objectionable. If there is no change in the decision, people will respond through hartal. The leaders said that demonstrations and meetings will be held in different parts of the district at 8 pm in support of the hartal.

The merchants said the governor was invited on November 6 and requested to give the date in December. On January 2, the governor's office informed that he would participate on January 9. Only the members of the trade union coordinating committee will participate in the function. Traders question whether it is right to oppose the charity event just because the governor is participating. It is reported that the Raj Bhavan has instructed the police to proceed with the programme. If there is an action to stop the governor as part of the hartal, it may take things to another level.