Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan stages sit-in protest over ‘police failure’ to prevent black flag demonstration at his motorcade

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan stages sit-in protest against police's failure to prevent student demonstration.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan broke the conventionalities of his office on Saturday, January 27, 2024, and staged an unexpected sit-in protest on the roadside at Nilamel in Kollam district to register his ire against the police’s alleged failure to prevent a Student Federation of India (SFI) black flag demonstration at his motorcade.

The chain of events unfolded when SFI activists protesting the Chancellor’s alleged move to stack State-funded varsities with Sangh Parivar nominees flaunted black flags as Mr. Khan’s car swept past them at 11 a.m.

An incensed Mr. Khan stepped out of his vehicle and rushed towards the protestors. The police formed a human shield around him as he loudly dared the student activists.

Mr. Khan also directed his ire at the officers, accusing them of allowing the SFI activists to gather along his route.

“Will you allow protestors to muster along the Chief Minister’s route? I hold you accountable for the failure”, Mr. Khan told the supervisor officer at the scene.

He also rejected the police’s statement that they had arrested 12 protestors. “There were more than 50 of them. Where are the rest? Is it a case of conspiracy?” he asked.

Mr. Khan then seated himself on a chair under the awning of a tea shop. Despite repeated requests from the police, Mr Khan refused to budge. He demanded a copy of the police’s first information report. He wanted to know the provisions of the law slapped on the students.