Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan faces ire on CAA from delegates at Indian History Congress
Kannur (Kerala): Delegates of the Indian National Congress today showed placards and raised vociferous slogans against the Citizens Amendment Act when Governor Arif Mohammad Khan was delivering his inaugural address here.
Led by senior historians and women, the delegates heckled the Governor who, for a moment, seems to have lost his cool. Mr Khan shouted back at the agitating delegates asking them to adopt Gandhian methods and come forward for a dialogue.
But much of what the Governor said was lost in the din and he had to cut short his speech. A visibly angry and upset Mr Khan then stormed out of the venue soon after the national anthem was played. As he was going out, he was booed by a section of the delegates.
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Women-led the protests with many pointing fingers at the Governor. The police tried to isolate them but local CPM workers prevented the law-enforcing agencies from carrying out their duty.
Later, the secretary of the Congress took serious exception to the way the police ‘manhandled’ the delegates who were holding a ‘peaceful protest’.
The inaugural session of the Indian History Congress ended in chaos leaving behind a sour note.
Later, the Governor accused well-known historian Irfan Habib of orchestrating the protests. He also asked the Kannur University Vice-Chancellor to submit the full and unedited video of what transpired at the venue. The VC met the Governor at the Guest House here and submitted the same.
Responding to the Governor’s accusations, Irfan Habib said when Mr Khan raised the issue of CAA, “we responded. Do we not have the right to protest,” he asked.
The state unit of the BJP said the unfortunate protest against the governor was ‘government-sponsored’ as senior CPM leaders and SFI students were present at the venue and joined the chorus in shouting down Mr Khan