THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Arif Mohammad Khan attacked the Chief Minister saying that he has no credibility and is lying for political gains. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan retaliated saying that there will be no discussion with the Governor who is overtaking him despite strong protests.
"If gold smuggling and hawala money are being received by banned organisations, who should stop it? Law and order is a state subject. I have every right to stop anti-national activities. They will know my administrative power immediately," the governor told the media.
In the PR controversy, if what was not said was printed, why was no legal action taken against the newspaper? The chief minister said that he has no connection with the PR agency. The Hindu revealed that the interview was offered by a PR agency. Who contacted the Hindu? Who offered the interview?
Why were two people from the PR agency accompanying the chief minister for the interview? Has the Chief Minister been able to prove that what he said was true?
The Governor read out the words of the Chief Minister at the press conference that 'gold and hawala smuggling is a crime against the state'. "Why were anti-national activities hidden without informing the Governor? Why should there be a governor if it cannot be stopped? Gold smuggling hawala money is becoming a fund for banned organisations. The chief minister and the police website make this clear. The chief minister has something to hide. That's why he gave a misleading reply.
The chief minister's secretary has been arrested in the gold smuggling case. It is the constitutional duty of the Chief Minister to inform the Governor. Shouldn't I be informed of an issue that affects national security? It's very serious. This will be communicated to the President. Information on individuals and organisations carrying out anti-national activities was sought but not provided. The chief minister is the patron of such forces," the governor alleged.
No talks with Governor: CM
The chief minister wrote a letter to the governor stating that the governor's allegation that the chief minister had something to hide was baseless and that he strongly disagreed and protested. "I have not said that anti-national activities are taking place in Kerala. The governor may have been misled. The fact may have been misinterpreted. The Hindu newspaper apologized for printing a piece of the interview that was not said. There is no need for an explanation anymore.
What I said was the figure of gold smuggling at airports captured by the police. I said strong action should be taken against gold smuggling and other crimes against the country and the state. It is for the customs to stop the gold smuggling. The police intervened when the gold smuggling led to law and order problems and tax leakage. It is not the government's fault but the customs' fault that smuggled gold is coming out of the airport. The governor should inform this to the Centre. It is reiterated that the chief secretary and the DGP were summoned bypassing the chief minister. No further discussions are planned with the Governor.